The North Shore Weekend West, Issue 110

FIND US ONLINE: DailyNorthShore.com

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2017

SUNDAY BREAKFAST

Glenview | Northbrook

Halo One Productions Director Kevin Lucero Less guides ‘ring’er film students. P14

1

SPORTS

Loyola Academy wideout Noah Jones made up for lost time in state final. P12

SOCIAL SCENE

Supporters met at Loft 21 to support and celebrate the 39th year of A Safe Place, the domestic violence shelter in Lake County. P7

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NO. 110 | A JWC MEDIA PUBLICATION

Glenview lights up the holidays

BY ADRIENNE FAWCETT DAILYNORTHSHORE.COM

H

1700 GREEN BAY ROAD HIGHLAND PARK 1700 GREEN BAY ROAD 847-432-5300 HIGHLAND PARK 1700 GREEN BAY ROAD 847-432-5300 HIGHLAND PARK

LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER 847-432-5300

e who hates the whole Christmas season rode up f ront with the Optimist Club of Glenview in the village’s holiday parade on November 25. And though he had what looked like a sour Grinchy f rown, even the Grinch exuded enthusiasm when the sun went down and thousands of twinkling lights went on in downtown Glenview.

An estimated 3,500 people attended the 23rd annual Holiday in the Park & Parade.

Revelers enjoyed hot chocolate and popcorn while Santa, dapper in his bright red suit and shiny black boots, listened to children share dreams of toys and games and more.

Joining Santa was his wife, Mrs. Claus, who took copious notes for the list that her husband will be checking twice throughout the season.

Many local organizations participated in the parade, including Girl Scout Troop 40814, Glenbrook South High S c h o o l m a rc h i n g b a n d , YMCA, American Legion Joseph M. Sesterhenn Post 166, Kohl’s Children’s Museum, @properties, Nor th S hore Associates OB-GYN and more.

“For me the big highlight of the parade is the community spirit,” said Betsy Baer, executive director of the Glenview Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event each year. “It’s all about the community. This is our way to thank the residents of Glenview for shopping locally Continued on PG 6

Santa Claus brings cheer to the Glenview Holiday Parade. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER

ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 91 HIGHLAND PK, IL

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| SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2017

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2017 |

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| SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2017

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

INDEX

IN THIS ISSUE SOME GIFTS ARE MEANT TO BE PLAYED WITH

[ NEWS ]

5 standout student “We can always talk about princesses,” says Glenbrook South senior Carly Merdinger. [ LIFESTYLE & ARTS ]

7 north shore foodie Northbrook’s Jar Bar looks to shake up the dining options on the North Shore.

7 social scene Loft 21 was the setting for an event called Unmask the Violence, which raised $187,000 for A Safe Place, the domestic violence shelter. [ REAL ESTATE ]

8 open houses Find out — complete with map — which houses you can walk through for possible purchase on the North Shore this weekend.

9 houses of the week We profile intriguing houses for sale on the North Shore. [ SPORTS ]

At the Unwrap a Jaguar Sales Event, you’ll find that gift-shopping is just as exciting as gift-giving.

Now through January 2, 2018, visit Imperial Motors Jaguar of Lake Bluff for enticing offers on the full Jaguar line-up. And, all new Jaguar vehicles come with Jaguar EliteCare, our Best-In-Class coverage, including complimentary scheduled maintenance for up to 5 years or 60,000 miles*, so the holiday spirit will last for years to come.

New 2018 Jaguar F-PACE 25t PREMIUM Lease for

489

$

per mo. for 39 mos.* $4,495 due at signing plus tax, title, license & doc. fee to qualified buyers. $0 security deposit. Offer expires 1/2/2018.

13 positively passionate There’s no lack of energy with New Glenbrook South boys basketball coach Phil Ralston.. [ LAST BUT NOT LEAST ] 14 sunday breakfast

The play isn’t the only thing for versatile and award-winning artist Kevin Lucero Less.

John Conatser founder & publisher Meagan Biebel assistant to the publisher & ceo [ EDITORIAL ] Adrienne Fawcett executive news & digital editor Bill McLean senior writer/associate editor Kevin Reiterman sports editor Kemmie Orquiz social editor [ DESIGN ] Linda Lewis production manager Kiara Smith advertising coordinator/graphic designer Doug Adcock graphic designer Samantha Suarez graphic designer [ CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ] Joanna Brown Libby Elliott Donald Liebenson Julie Kemp Pick Steve Sadin Emily Spectre

JA G UA R O F L A K E B L U F F

150 Skokie Hwy. • 847.615.0606 www.imperialmotors.com THE ART OF PERFORMANCE

*Class is cars sold by luxury automotive brands and claim is based on total package of New Vehicle Limited Warranty, Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance, 24-Hour Roadside Assistance and Jaguar InControl® Remote & Protect.™ For complete details visit imperialmotors.com.

[ PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART ] Joel Lerner chief photographer Larry Miller contributing photographer Robin Subar contributing photographer Barry Blitt illustrator [ SALES ] Gretchen Barnard, M.J. Cadden, Courtney Pitt All advertising inquiry info should be directed to 847-926-0957 & info@jwcmedia.com Find us online: DailyNorthShore.com Like us on Facebook! © 2017 The North Shore Weekend/A publication of JWC Media 445 Sheridan Rd., Highwood, IL 60040

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2017 |

5

NEWS

STANDOUT STUDENT Water runs through Merdinger’s athletic and academic endeavors

BY BILL MCLEAN

C

arly Merdinger was in a pool, teaching kids how to swim, when it hit her a couple of years ago: I enjoy this, and I’m pretty good at this.

Now a senior at Glenbrook South High School, Merdinger sees herself teaching kids — dry ones, in a classroom — for a living after her college years.

“My favorite age group is the one with four- and five-yearolds,” says Merdinger, a junior varsity swimmer in the fall and an instructor with the school’s Learn-to-Swim program since 2014. “Those kids are enthusiastic about learning and so much fun to be around. One of them asked me, in the middle of a lesson, ‘Can we talk about princesses?’ I told her, “We can always talk about princesses.’

“The key to teaching,” she adds, “is building relationships with your students.”

Her relationship with Glenbrook South JV swimming coach and family and consumer

Carly Merdinger

sciences teacher Kim Kiraly is a strong one. Merdinger is a student in Kiraly’s Child Development class.

“She’s an amazing teacher, one of the most supportive teachers I know,” says Merdinger, primarily a sprinter for the Titans’ JV swimming and diving team in the 2017 season. “I like the way she teaches and the

freedom she gives her students.

You know what else she does that makes her such an effective teacher? She trusts her students.”

Merdinger was seven years old and had tried soccer and ballet when she dipped her toes into competitive water at a Glenbrook Aquatics Club session in Northbrook. She took to it — quickly.

“I liked being in the water,” Merdinger recalls. “It was soothing and calming.”

Nearly 10 years later, the setting for her project in her AP Photography class, was … underwater. Merdinger, a junior at the time, got permission to use one of Glenbrook South’s pools for the shoot. Peers dressed in prom threads — obtained from a thrift shop — and posed underwater for Merdinger. One subject kept her eyes wide open while Merdinger clicked, clicked, clicked.

Merdinger, a National Honor Society member, also serves as a Peer Group leader at Glenbrook South. Among the responsibilities in that leadership role is to help freshmen make a smooth transition to high school.

Merdinger and her group of students gathered for a get-together at the school on Halloween. Each had donned a costume for the school day.

All posed for a picture.

On land.

“I was Supergirl,” Merdinger says. “I wore a red metallic skirt,

The key to teaching is building relationships with your students.

— Glenbrook South senior Carly Merdinger with a pink shirt under a T-shirt with an ‘S’ on it.

“I love my freshmen, and I love what they’re doing with their opportunities outside of the classroom.”

Steve and Marcia Merdinger must feel the same way about their daughter, who has been

active in 4-H at Historic Wagner Farm in Glenview since the sixth grade. Steve Merdinger signed up for Chicago-based Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) when he knew Carly would stick with her commitment to swimming.

PCA is a national non-profit organization with the mission to transform the culture of youth sports so that youth athletes can have a positive, character-building experience.

Carly’s dad has been a PCA Chicago chapter board member.

“My dad is a big believer in having a positive attitude … in always having a positive attitude,” Merdinger says. “It’s a key to success. He sometimes texts me and asks me to text him three good things about the day I’m having.”

She must have, at least once, replied, “Water, water, water.”

Do you know a teen doing outstanding work in the f ield of charity, science, arts, business or education? Please send your suggestion for Standout Student to bill@northshoreweekend.com.

Shopping list a blank page? Buy books

BY STEVE SADIN DAILYNORTHSHORE.COM

A

re you looking for a book to give as a holiday gift or to put on your own wish

list?

Owners of the North Shore’s three independent bookstores— Lake Forest Book Store, The Book Bin in Northbrook and The Book Stall in Winnetka— took time from their holiday preparations to offer suggestions.

There were no unanimous selections, but four books in three categories —nonfiction, children’s and coffee table or gift — were listed twice.

Both Stephanie Hochschild, owner of The Book Stall, and Laura Skinner, buyer at Lake Forest Book Store, rave about Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson in the nonfiction category. Skinner called the biography a “passionate portrait of a gigantic historical figure who was an artist, scientist and genius in the true sense of the word.” Hochschild said it is a hard book to put down.

“Another masterful biography from the amazing Mr. Isaacson,”

said Hochschild. “Don’t be put off by the heft — this biography is compelling reading.”

Allison Mengarelli, owner of The Book Bin, suggested two very different nonfiction selections.

One, Sons and Soldiers by Bruce Henderson, is a World War II story about young Germans who fled the Nazis going to America but returned to Europe to fight against their former country. Peter Wohlleben’s Hidden Life of Animals deals with animal emotions.

Allison Mengarelli, owner of The Book Bin in Northbrook.

“This is an easy book to pick PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER up and put down,” Mengarelli said of the Hidden Life of Animals. “Hunted to near extinction by ideas how to craft a new one.

“Through observation and re- ranchers and cattlemen, wolves One of Mengarelli’s favorite search, the author presents have managed to survive. This children’s holiday selections is I complex emotions exhibited by heartwarming true story demands Love Music by Marion Billet. She animals in simple but very inter- human understanding of the said the reinforced board pages esting examples.” complex social organization of let the reader/listener hear as well Skinner and Hochschild also wolves and their essential role in as read. recommend a nonfiction animal the ecosystem.”

“Introducing various instrustory. American Wolf by Nate When it comes to a book ments to the very young is fun Blakeslee is a “completely en- written with Christmas in mind, for everyone,” Mengarelli said. grossing book about the fallout both Hochschild and Skinner “There hasn’t been a person yet surrounding the reintroduction recommended the 12 Sleighs of we’ve shown this book to who of wolves into Yellowstone Na- Christmas by Chicago author hasn’t bought it.” tional Park. Few creatures are as Sherri Duskey Rinker. When For those looking for a book despised and misunderstood as Santa’s elves discover Santa’s to go on a coffee table, both the wolf,” Hochschild said. sleigh is in bad shape, they all give Skinner and Hochschild sug-

gested Wise Trees by Dianne Cook. It has photographs of more than 50 historical trees from around the world. It shows the trees in their natural environment “reinforcing a role in human history that transcends the merely practical,” said Hochschild.

Another unusual children’s book with a historic bent recommended is The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine. Mark Twain started to write it years ago, and it was finished by the writer/illustrator team of Philip Stead and Erin Stead.

“This lovely book started as a story Twain told his daughters about a boy with the ability to speak to animals,” said Hochschild. “The illustrations in this book are beautiful.”

Works of adult fiction recommended are Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan, Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward, Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak, The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg, Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, The Trust by Ron Balson, Beartown by Fredrik Backman,

The World of Tomorrow by Brendan Mathews, The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne, Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz, and Legacy of Spies by John Le Carre.

Works of nonfiction suggested are The Long Haul: A Trucker’s Tales of Life on the Road by Finn Murphy, L’Appart: The Delights and Disasters of Making My Paris Home by David Lebovitz, The Vietnam War: An Intimate History

by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns, Grant by Ron Chernow, and Sisters First by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush.

Additional suggestions for the coffee table include A Man and His Watch by Matt Hranek and Endangered by Tim Flach.

More children’s selections are Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares, The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

by Karina Yan Glaser, The Explorer by Katherine Rundell, Sled Dog School by Terry Lynn Johnson, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling, and Song of the Wild: A First Book of Animals by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Petr Horacek.

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| SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2017

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

NEWS

Take a break from holidays with Afternoon Tea

BY LIBBY ELLIOTT DAILYNORTHSHORE.COM

O

n June 26, 1959, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh made their first and only official visit to Chicago - a 14hour, whirlwind trip culminating in a formal banquet hosted

by Mayor Richard Daley at The Drake Hotel.

Nearly six decades since the Queen touched down in the Windy City, The Drake is still earning mileage from her historic visit. “Come sip tea where the Queen dined in 1959,” beckons the hotel’s website. At both The Drake and Chicago’s Peninsula Hotel, traditional afternoon tea service remains a popular ritual with tourists, holiday shoppers, and area residents, who often book weeks in advance to dine in splendor on finger sandwiches, pastries and scones, accompanied by a pot of hot, steeped tea.

Now, with a handful of North Shore establishments getting in on the act, local anglophiles can partake in the great British tradition of afternoon tea without ever trekking downtown.

At Lake Forest ’s newly renovated Deer Path Inn - built

in 1929 to resemble an English “When people think of af- end of November, tins of Irish manor estate - formal afterternoon tea, they think of a Afternoon Tea biscuits that noon tea, priced at $45 for place like The Drake,” said quickly sell out before Christadults and $27 for children, is Breslin. “We like to remind mas. served on fine Wedgewood our customers that they’re still “There are Irish residents china in the hotel’s elegant in a pub. Wear your jeans. living in Chicago who come English Room, Tuesday Bring your kids.” out and buy 10-12 tins at a through Saturday from 2 to 4 For do-it yourselfers, The time,” said Breslin. “It’s a tradip.m. Taking great care to create Irish Connoisseur gift shop on tion.” an authentic afternoon tea Waukegan Road in Glenview experience for guests, Deer stocks all the essentials for a Path Inn General Manager traditional Irish tea. According WHERE TO FIND Matthew Barba consulted with to the shop’s longtime owner, AF TERNOON TEA British Master of Tea Malcolm Megan Van Treeck, Irish NEAR THE NORTH “teatime” is traditionally an SHORE: Ferris-Lay. As per tradition, early meal served to young scones should be served warm, • The Deer Path Inn, 255 E and only after tea and sandchildren at around 4 or 5 p.m., Illinois Rd, Lake Forest, (847) typically comprising eggs, sau- 234-2280; Tuesday-Saturday, wiches are brought to the table.

Megan Van Treeck, owner of the Irish Connoisseur in Glenview, Adding lemon and honey to tea sages, bread and strong Irish 2-4 p.m. by reservation helps customers put together items perfect for a traditional – a custom often favored by tea served black – never with • The Celtic Knot, 626 Church Afternoon Tea. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER milk. Van Treeck stocks tradiAmericans – is anathema to St, Evanston, (847) 864-1679; most Brits. tional Irish pork sausages, black cucumber, ham and lobster- served every Wednesday and “According to Malcolm, one filled finger sandwiches are Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. since pudding, white pudding and Wednesday and Saturday, 2-4 should never ruin the flavor served on an elegant, three- April 16, 2005. bacon – all sold for $6.99/lb p.m. by reservation profile of tea with something tiered serving tray.

• The Irish Connoisseur, 1232 “We named it after my beau- and sourced from Winston’s acidic, like lemon,” said Barba.

Waukegan Road, Glenview, “Afternoon tea is more about tiful mother-in-law, Moira, Sausages in Chicago.

The Deer Path Inn has also the theater of it all,” said Barba. after she passed away in 1988 “I probably sell about 50 (847) 998-1988; Mondayadded unique touches to its “We want to keep those tradi- at age 80,” said owner Liz pounds of sausages every two Friday, 10:00-5:30/Saturday, 4 afternoon tea service, including tions alive.”

Breslin. “Our first tea service weeks,” said Van Treek. “Over p.m. the years, a lot of Irish stores a complimentary glass of proBut traditional afternoon tea was on her birthday.”

• High Tea with Gerri, 144 secco, a menu of the hotel’s doesn’t have to be posh; many Along with fresh, homemade have closed, but people still Old McHenry Road, Long Grove, own in-house blended teas and country pubs in the UK and scones, The Celtic Knot serves want their favorite foods.” fruit infusions, as well as sea- Ireland serve tea, sandwiches, traditional finger sandwiches, Van Treek also stocks popular (847) 948-1724; Mondaysonally inspired petit fours, and scones in more casual sur- mini-tarts and desserts with a Irish dry goods, such as McVi- Sunday, 12-4 p.m. by reservation homemade jam, lemon curd, roundings. At the Celtic Knot, pot of fresh tea for $19, or $12 ties Digestive Biscuits, a selec• Pine Cone Cottage, 1029 and sweet cream served with a homey Irish pub on Church for children. The Celtic Knot tion of imported, “authentic” Burlington Ave, Downers Grove scones from Bamford Bakery Street in Evanston, “Moira’s experience, said Breslin, is not Cadbury chocolates, Barry’s (630) 963-9130; Wednesday– in Highwood. Artfully cut Afternoon Tea,” has been meant to be fancy. and Lyons Irish tea, and, at the Sunday, 12-4 p.m. by reservation

HOLIDAYS Continued from PG 1 and remaining loyal Glenview folk.”

Getting the Shop Local message out has never been more important, given that online sales hit a record high o ver t he Th an ks gi vi ng weekend, according to Adobe Analytics, which measures transactions by the 100 largest U.S. web retailers.

Between Thanksgiving Day on November 24 and 10 a.m.

Cyber Monday on November 27, the total online sales figure reached nearly $14 billion, the Chicago Tribune reported. More than half of the online sales were made f rom smart phones and tablets, according to Reuters.

It’s impossible to fight the online shopping movement, said Baer, so the Chamber focuses on education and encouragement. “People need to understand the impact that shopping outside of the local community has on the community,” she said.

To that end, the Chamber

From left, Glenview residents Kristy Calanca,12, and her sister Karolina, 9, let the (artificial) snow fall at the Glenview Holiday Parade. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER

reminds residents that shopping local affects taxes, village services and the look and feel of downtown shopping districts. “ When they shop local, 1.75% of every purchase stays in the community to pay for various ser vices the village puts forward, like public works.

Our dollars support the local economy, and that helps keep property taxes down. We try to educate that if you go to Amazon – or even if you go to Northbrook and spend money there -- your money is not staying local.”

To encourage local shopping, the Glenview Chamber is hosting its annual “ Win with the Bear” contest, named in honor of a statue that has been stationed at the entrance of Jackman Park since 1917. Some 65 shops and services are offering prizes, as well as the opportunity to jump to Level 2 and win a Star Wars Drone and more at Glenview Bank & Trust and Northview Bank & Trust.

Both Level 1 drawings at the

shops, and Level 2 at the banks are slated for December 18.

“If we continue to not utilize our businesses, both large and small, we will lose them,” Baer said. “ We will lose the wonderful experience you get walking down the

main streets of town, going past merchants—many of whom live and work here. It is convenient to have all these online opportunities we didn’t have 20 years ago, but we don’t want people to lose sight of supporting their own treasure – their community.”

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2017 |

7

LIFESTYLE & ARTS

NORTH SHORE FOODIE

Jar Bar shakes up North Shore food scene

BY LIBBY ELLIOTT DAILYNORTHSHORE.COM

downtown Northbrook to launch her healthy, urban-style eatery, Jar ar Bar Babe” Karen Firsel Bar. enjoys being disruptive.

“When I get an idea in my When the TV spokes- head, there’s really no stopping person and former MSNBC, me,” said Firsel.

Open for breakfast and lunch NBC News and Oprah producer moved from Chicago to North- seven days a week, the 30-seat Jar brook 10 years ago with her Bar uses clear, recyclable plastic husband, Adam, she quickly jars to serve its menu of salads, settled into a new suburban oatmeal, and acai bowls, providing routine. a convenient container for transHer kids, Emma, 10, and Eli, porting and displaying fresh, 7, loved their weekend meals at “clean,” colorful ingredients. local haunts like Portillos, Little “Portability is important to me,” Louie’s and Lou Malnati’s, but said Firsel. “As a working mom, Firsel missed the healthy dining I’m always on the go…eating in options she enjoyed while living the car or standing up.”

The café’s four signature salads downtown and traveling to New York and Los Angeles for work. are served in 24-ounce jars and “I was struck by the void of priced at $10, including the forward-thinking food and pro- “Original 5,” a blend of mixed gressive décor,” said Firsel, a self- greens, roasted vegetables, asparaprofessed devotee of nutrition and gus, sun dried tomato pesto and wellness. “As a consumer, I felt we dressed with balsamic vinaigrette. should demand better.”

Jar Bar’s “Lights Out,” salad layers Determined to shake things up mixed greens with black rice, and disrupt what she calls subur- roasted mushrooms, cranberries, ban “food complacency,” Firsel edamame, and sweet potatoes, took a brave, bold leap last May topped with vinaigrette made from - snagging a high visibility corner coconut aminos. location on Shermer Street in Jar Bar’s popular breakfast

“J

Jar Bar’s Poke Bowl with three of the favorite Jar Salads: Original Five, Deconstructed Burrito, and The Lights Out. PHOTOGRAPHY

BY JOEL LERNER

menu features four Egg Bowls, each priced at $6, consisting of a poached egg layered on potato mash topped with a range of ingredients including avocado, tomatillos, and corn salsa.

Customers looking for a quick grab and go can choose one of Jar Bar’s pre-made 16 ounce Overnight Oats for $5, a concoction of oatmeal topped with fresh flavor-

ings that steeps for 24-hours. “The Skinny Elvis,” is a blend of bananas, peanut butter; “Cake for Breakfast,” mixes oatmeal with cashew ricotta, coconut sugar crunch and Jar Bar’s signature granola. The café recently introduced a new menu of seasonal hot foods, including poke bowls and loaded baked potatoes.

In choosing Jar Bar’s menu and

design, Firsel’s aim was to create a community-style restaurant while simultaneously breaking away from classic American diner fare.

“We don’t have a fryer,” said Firsel. “There are no hotdogs or hamburgers on the menu, and yet we play to every age group. We have students from Glenbrook North coming in regularly for lunch.”

The café caters to young children with its bento boxes filled with vegetables and hummus and granola and yogurt, and a cleverly deconstructed version of a PB&J sandwich: whole -wheat crackers, sliced apples, granola and fruit compote.

“The vast majority of our menu is gluten-free, even thought we’re not specifically catering to that market,” said Firsel. “99% of our offerings are dairy free, since we use primarily nut milks and cashews in our ingredients.”

And while Jar Bar offers its customers an abundance of healthy options, not everything served in their jars is 100% guilt free. Jar Bar’s signature 8-ounce chocolate and rainbow layered Cake Jars

have been a runaway hit with customers of all ages. The café routinely caters corporate lunches, Bar Mitzvahs, weddings and birthday parties.

With years of experience in television, media savvy Firsel knows how to create a social experience around food. The restaurant’s blue banquettes and white high-top tables surround a long, open kitchen where dishes are freshly prepared by staff. A bright white wall adorned with the Jar Bar brand, logo and tag line provides the perfect backdrop for an Instagram-posted selfie. The café sells a selection of t-shirts emblazoned with witty phrases like, “This t-shirt is gluten free,” ‘Cake for Breakfast,” and “Jar-Bar Babe,” alongside bags of kale chips and Voss water.

Firsel says she grew up in a close-knit Jewish home where her mother prepared delicious family meals from the family’s small kitchen in Buffalo Grove.

“Food always equaled thoughtfulness and love for me,” said Firsel. “It’s a feeling I hope we’ve recreated here.”

SOCIALS Unmask the Violence A Safe Place Photography by Larry Miller

More than 300 guests enjoyed a fun and exciting evening at Loft 21 in Lincolnshire to raise awareness of domestic violence and $187,000 for lifesaving programs and services for victims and their children. Presented

by A Safe Place in Lake County, guests also celebrated the nonprofit’s 39th year. Mark Silverman of ESPN AM 1000 served as master of ceremonies, and Michael Rosengarden received the Betty Toser “Angel” Award for his generosity, commitment, and leadership over the past 12 years.

PATRICIA ANDERSKOW, LISA BRENNAN

MARGIE GREEN, LESLIE RAFFEL

DOROTHY WULF, STEVE PAVLOVIC

asafeplaceforhelp.org AUDRY GOLDMAN, ILYSE STRONGIN

PATRICIA OSTROW, IRA NITZKIN

CRISTINA ALBULESCU, MARC SILVERMAN, BIANCA BACIU

| SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2017

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

REAL ESTATE

OPEN HOUSES DENT

1. 1900 Wilmot Road BANNOCKBURN Sunday 1-4 $2,695,000 Jean Anderson & Donna Mancuso, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff 847.460.5412

OF THE MO N wy Skokie H

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U ST

TH

TH

8

LUCY SPAHR



3-7

Buckley Rd

NEW TRIER HIGH SCHOOL

2. 2250 Telegraph Rd BANNOCKBURN Sunday 12-2 $2,099,000 Elizabeth Wieneke, Griffith, Grant & Lackie Realtors® 847.234.0485

Lake Bluff

3. 350 Signe Court LAKE BLUFF Sunday 1-3 $800,000 Martha Pedersen, @properties 847.295.0700

E Park Ave

N Green

4. 15 Warrington Drive LAKE BLUFF Sunday 1-3 $500,000 Dede Banks, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff 847.542.0700

Bay Rd

5. 322 Park Lane LAKE BLUFF Sunday 1-3 $495,000 Deb Fischer, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff 847.309.0110

821

Lake Forest

E Townline Rd

Everett Rd

Skok

8. 644 Northmoor Rd LAKE FOREST Sunday 1-3 $649,000 Leslie Dhamer & Heidi Ogden, Griffith, Grant & Lackie Realtors® 847.234.0485 9. 1001 E Westleigh Rd LAKE FOREST Sunday 2-4 $1,149,000 Elizabeth Wieneke & Diane McGuire, Griffith, Grant & Lackie Realtors® 847.234.0485

lley Rd

Half Day Rd

2236 3743

10. 1177 Edgewood Rd LAKE FOREST Sunday 2:15-4 $1,999,999 Lisa Trace, Griffith, Grant & Lackie Realtors® 847.234.0485

gan uke Rd

17. 1910 W. Southmeadow Lane LAKE FOREST Sunday 2-4 $1,149,000 Rina Du Toit, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff 847.814.8648

29. 522 Burton Ave HIGHLAND PARK Sunday 1-3 $529,000 Karen Skurie, Baird 847-361-4687

24. 332 Walker Ave HIGHLAND PARK Tuesday 1-3 $259,000 Flor Hasselbring, Griffith, Grant & Lackie Realtors® 847.234.0485

Tower Rd 5457

Winnetka

25. 256 SUMAC Road HIGHLAND PARK Sunday 2-4 $749,000 Lauren Absler, @properties 847.432.0700

her

N. S

d nR

ida

Sunset Ridge Rd

Shermer Rd

Willow Rd

28. 940 Augusta W HIGHLAND PARK Sunday 1-3 $379,000 LInda Schwartz, Ba 847-702-7077

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a N. W

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Bannockburn A Spahr delivered a jab at a pressing issue — and connected brilliantly.

New Trier senior Lucy Spahr was recognized by C-SPAN for her documentary, Global Warming: The Dead Zone, earlier this year and received $250 to go along with an Honorable Mention designation.

Also honorable: Spahr’s decision to donate all of the money to Greenpeace.

The industrious and enterprising student-athlete also produced a music video, “If We Were Rain” (2017), which earned Official Selection status at the Santa Monica International Teen Film Festival and at the All American High School Film Festival.

Among the honors student’s other interests are writing, playing and teaching tennis and introducing her friends to ethnic restaurants in and near Chicago.

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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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10

| SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2017

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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11

12

| SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2017

SPORTS

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @tnswsports

Noah a go-to in title-game loss

Wideout Jones (8 catches, 126 yards), Loyola Academy fall to speedy Lincoln-Way East in 8A championship

BY BILL MCLEAN, SPORTS@NORTHSHOREWEEKEND.COM

F

or the first seven weeks of Loyola Academy’s football season, junior wide receiver Noah Jones had zero catches and one ailing, stubborn left hamstring.

The Ramblers played Providence Catholic on Oct. 13, or Week 8.

Jones was healthy enough to suit up and play.

Finally.

“Felt great,” the 6-foot-2, 195pounder said of coming down with

I’m confident we’ll be able to make another run to the state title game next year.”

— Loyola Academy junior wideout Noah Jones his first reception of the season in a 28-3 victory.

The South Loop resident would catch 10 more passes in the ensuing weeks, helping the Ramblers reach the Class 8A state championship for the third year in a row and fifth time in seven years.

Four of the grabs resulted in touchdowns.

Rainy, miserable conditions in a 17-10 state semifinal defeat of host Edwardsville kept him on a sideline on Nov. 18.

Jones returned to action on the biggest stage — Huskie Stadium, on Northern Illinois University’s campus in DeKalb — for the 8A title tilt against Lincoln-Way East on Nov. 25. The night was dry and chilly early and crisp late, with an 8 mph wind.

Jones, undaunted and determined, had a monster night nearly a month after Halloween, hauling in eight passes for 126 yards (15.8 yards per catch) on Brigham Field.

He caught a 37-yard toss from senior quarterback Quinn Boyle

plodes. We were in the right place.

“The majority of running backs against us don’t make that run.”

Boyle connected with Boos (8 catches, 84 yards) for a 15-yard TD on LA’s first possession of the second half. The QB had shimmied his shoulders before releasing the pigskin toward a corner in the end zone. Boyle rushed for a two-yard TD — on a fourth-and-goal — to tie it at 13-13 early in the fourth quarter.

Junior kicker Edward Auer made the extra point to give LA its only lead of the game.

Ramblers senior linebacker Anthony Rodriguez stood out defensively with a team-high eight tackles (1 sack, 2 tackles for loss).

Dixon dropped ball carriers seven times, including 4.5 for loss, while Pat Daniels, Christopher Scott and Jake Gonzalez had five stops each.

“Our team,” Jones said, “played with so much heart all season. I’ll never forget the atmosphere at this game, with all of the fans, with all of the cheering. The brotherhood we had was special.

“I’m confident we’ll be able to make another run to the state title game next year.”

Notable: As Lincoln-Way East football coach Rob Zvonar dismissed some of his players to answer one-on-one questions with the media following East’s 23-14 Loyola Academy wide receiver Noah Jones hauls in pass during the state final. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER defeat of Loyola Academy in the in the first quarter and snared a quarter.

Minutes earlier, flanked by five I think, played the season without 8A state title game last weekend “It was great having Noah out of his Ramblers at the post-game an injury.

36-yarder on the first drive of the in DeKalb, he told them, “Stay fourth quarter.

“We had great kids from great humble and speak in complete there,” Boyle said after completing presser, LA coach John Holecek Loyola Academy, alas, fell 23-14 27-of-44 passes for 305 yards (TD, had lauded his entire squad for families,” the coach added. “It was sentences.” … LA senior wideout and finished with a 12-2 record.

2 interceptions) and rushing for a refusing to wilt throughout a trying, a pleasure to coach them.”

James Joyce had six receptions for LA’s only other loss in 2017? two-yard TD in the fourth quarter. injury- and illness-racked season.

Any coach out there want to 59 yards against East’s Griffins, To another state champion, What would have been greater “I’m so proud of these guys,” said coach against Henning in the next giving him a team-high 56 grabs Phillips. The eventual 5A champi- in Jones’ mind: watching Boyle Holecek, 1-4 in state-champion- two seasons? The electric 5-10, 170 in 2017. He finished the season ons defeated visiting Loyola — one of two Ramblers (with ship games and 135-28 (.828) pounder stunned Loyola Academy with 677 receiving yards, second Academy 20-14 in the season senior defensive lineman Marty overall after 12 seasons with the with his 63-yard TD run late in to Rory Boos’ 827 among Ramopener on Aug. 26.

Geary) on the 2017 Illinois Foot- program. “Kids filled in … had to the third quarter. Henning — who blers. … LA tight end Charles Lincoln-Way East (14-0), which ball Coaches Association Class 8A fill in, seemingly every week. We had rushed only 29 times for 231 Gilroy, a 6-foot-5, 225-pounder, led 7-0 at the half, erased a 14-13, all-state first team — end his prep had guys who are as tough as can yards before the championship caught four balls for 26 yards in his fourth-quarter deficit in a hurry career with a victory in the state be. Our running back [senior game — took a handoff and bolted final prep game last weekend. … last weekend, tallying the game’s championship game.

Hamid Bullie] underwent surgery to his right, with a couple of Ram- LA topped Lincoln-Way East final nine points in a 1:27 span.

“I feel terrible we weren’t able to to reconstruct his knee in the off- blers in pursuit near the Ramblers’ 354-253 in total yardage, but East Griffins sophomore running back/ win tonight for Quinn and the rest season and then had to deal with sideline. He then took a sharp left limited to LA to 39 yards rushing wideout A.J. Henning (17 rushes, of the seniors,” said Jones, who a meniscus tear; one of our [defen- and blazed for a quick six, giving on 28 carries. … LA turned the 154 yards, 2 touchdowns), blessed received a scholarship offer from sive backs, Charles] Largay had the Griffins a 13-7 lead with 22 ball over three times to East’s zero. with breakneck, 100-yard-dash Central Michigan University in mono this week … I could go on seconds left in the frame. … The Ramblers converted speed, followed up Dominic July. “Quinn is an amazing football and on. Of the guys with me [at “He’s a heck of a running back, 7-of-15 third downs; the Griffin Dzioban’s 32-yard field goal with player and a great friend. I can’t say the press conference], only two with great speed,” Holecek said. were successful only once in 10 a 42-yard TD sprint up the middle enough good things about that [junior wideout Rory Boos and “He hesitates and waits for some- third-down snaps. at the 3:44 mark of the fourth kid.” junior linebacker Armoni Dixon], thing to develop — and then ex-

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SSATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2017 |

13

SPORTS

PHIL-LING THE BILL Ralston already energizing Glenbrook South boys hoops program

BY BILL MCLEAN, SPORTS@NORTHSHOREWEEKEND.COM

I

f his new boys basketball gig at Glenbrook South doesn’t work out for Phil Ralston, there’s always lifeguarding.

Or police work — as a traffic cop.

The man can whistle.

Sharply … no, piercingly.

The occasional shrill certainly gets the attention of his Titans (and spectators and refs and concession workers and folks living in Cook County) at crucial junctures of games.

“I learned how to whistle at a young age,” Ralston — the boys basketball coach at Geneva High School the past nine seasons, before succeeding Ben Widner at the start of the school year — said after a Bison Classic Thanksgiving Tournament game at Buffalo Grove High School last week.

“You won’t be the first person to write about my whistling.”

The man can coach, too. His 2014-15 Geneva squad (30-5) finished fourth in the Class 4A tournament, and his Vikings crew two years later won its first 26 games in a 31-game season.

Ralston went 193-77 at the Upstate Eight school and accepted the position at Glenbrook South with an overall record of 301-179; he had a 108-102 record in 11 seasons at Grant High School in Fox Lake.

“He has a lot of passion,” Glenbrook South junior guard Will King said. “I like his energy, his vision for us. I like what he preaches. Positive, upbeat — you see those qualities when he coaches.

“We’ve all bought in.”

Ralston, also an English teacher, has little need for a chair or a bench when he coaches. When the coach with the sharp-looking threads is not squatting and surveying the action intently in front of his team’s bench during possessions, he’s pacing and urging his Titans. At least four times during Glenbrook South’s 55-49 loss to the host school in a Bison Classic game on Nov. 22, Ralston barked, “Move!

Move!” when his boys were on offense.

jointed.”

Ralston, a Glenbrook North graduate, joined Cathy, a Glenbrook South graduate, in Holy

I like his energy, his vision for us. I like what he preaches.

Positive, upbeat — you see those qualities when he coaches.”

— Glenbrook South junior guard Will King, on Titans first-year basketball coach Phil Ralston

New Glenbrook South boys basketball coach Phil Ralston huddles with his players during a timeout during the Buffalo Grove Thanksgiving Tournament. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER

Something good on the court usually followed.

“Right now it’s about learning,” said Ralston, whose Titans (1-3) edged Grayslake Central’s Rams 41-40 in their tourna-

ment finale on Nov. 25. “It’s tough … we had a summer together to get to know everybody. At times there’s that urge to step on the gas, but fourth gear is not there yet.

“I liked what I saw against Buffalo Grove; better, a much better, effort from us. Our first two games [losses to Naperville Central on Nov. 20 and ZionBenton on Nov. 21] were dis-

Matrimony.

It wasn’t exactly a McCoy saying “I do” to a Hatfield, but fun-loving talk of the SpartansTitans rivalry must have surfaced at the reception.

“No need to put that in there — where I graduated from high school,” the coach said. “But you can add this: My wife graduated with a class rank of two.”

His Titans used sharp threepoint shooting to overcome an 11-0 deficit to BG on the day before Thanksgiving. South drained four treys, including a pair from senior guard Yianni Mavrakis, in the second quarter.

In one particularly hot stretch — from 6:05 to 3:07 of the second frame — Ralston’s boys hit the Bison with a 12-4 run.

Glenbrook South secured its first lead, 25-24, with 29 ticks left in the half.

That also was the score at the half.

“O ur bench had great energy,” said King, who finished

with a team-high 14 points (10 in the second half ). “The guys picked us up. It was nice to see the threes fall; that gave us confidence.

“I have confidence in my team.”

J u n i o r g u a rd J i m m y McMahon tallied nine points, junior guard Mac Hubbard scored eight, and Mavrakis (team-high 5 rebounds) and junior guard Gavin Morse each chipped in with six points.

King netted six of his team’s nine points in the third quarter.

Glenbrook South trailed 49-43 with 1:11 left in the final quarter, before BG produced a 5-0 run from the free-throw line.

McMahon tossed in South’s seventh and eighth threepointers in the final 16 seconds.

Three nights later, in the defeat of Grayslake Central, sophomore forward Dom Martinelli led the Titans with 10 points, while Morse came down with a team-high six boards. A transition trey from Hubbard upped South’s advantage to 15 points midway through the third quarter.

“The team improved as the week progressed,” Ralston noted. “We saw better team play [vs. Grayslake Central] — something we need to continue to build upon.

“The perseverance against the adversity of playing good teams will make us better as the season progresses.”

Notable: Former Titans boys basketball coach Ben Widner coached 17 years at the school, including the last five as head varsity coach. His last squad went 9-18. … First-year Glenbrook South boys basketball coach Phil Ralston will coach against New Trier coach Scott Fricke at least twice in the 2017-18 season. Ralston coached against Fricke’s son, Zach, last weekend. The 6-foot2 senior guard starts for Buffalo Grove High School. … Titans junior guard Will King, on Ralston: “He’s been teaching me how to be a leader for our team. I’m becoming a better person, too.”

14

| SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 20177

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SUNDAY BREAKFAST

More and more of Less is a good thing

BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT

M

ore than two decades ago, Arvada West (Colorado) High School drama teacher Rosanna Wilkie urged cop-orDEA-agent-wannabe Kevin Lucero Less to show up for the first day of the school’s South Pacific auditions.

Less’ initial reaction: No way.

Why in the world would a future law enforcement officer perform in a musical?

Wilkie assured Less that he wouldn’t have to do much at the audition. All he would have to do is sit and watch.

Less agreed to attend.

About 70 other students joined him.

Wilkie welcomed the hopefuls.

When she announced the name of the student she had chosen to do the first reading, Less … heard his name.

“She had conned me,” Lucero, sitting across from me at Once Upon a Bagel in Winnetka, recalls with a stage-wide smile. “You know what else she did? She changed my life.”

Less earned the role of Commander William Harbison and discovered the joys that come with entertaining a rapt, appreciative audience.

Buh-bye, billy club; Hello, Dolly! (or something like that).

“Without Rosanna Wilkie’s encouragement,” Less adds, “I would’ve been a miserable cop or a miserable detective. Or I might have died on the job.”

Less, 40, grew up in the Denver area and in Los Angeles and graduated from the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) in Los Angeles in 1999. Among the other AADA products: Robert Redford, Grace Kelly, Spencer Tracy, Lauren Bacall, Adrien Brody, Gena Rowlands and Edward G. Robinson.

“Boot camp for actors,” Less, a Winnetka resident since 2007, says of AADA. “Brutal, the teaching methods. But I wanted to be challenged; I wanted my teachers to be stern, tough. I’ve always appreciated teachers like that.”

Less — a stage/film/television actor, producer and director, as well

as a photographer, teacher, painter and lover of industry-changing, enigmatic films from the 1970s — teaches budding filmmakers and actors at DePaul Prep-based Infinity Arts Academy (IAA) in Chicago. He also launched Halo One Productions in 2005 and serves as its artistic director.

“With Halo One, I help fellow artists get on the right path,” Less says above his breakfast order: cranberry juice, ham and cheese omelet and a jamsmeared plain bagel. “I’ve never considered myself an actor; I’m an artist.

“We’re all, in a way, actors, aren’t we?”

Earlier this year, in a play, Surrounded by Leaves, Less staged at IAA to raise money for new equipment, he portrayed a madman. Less’ performance stunned one of his students in the audience. Frightened her. Less, from a spot on stage, noticed the student had gripped the sides of her face and had no intention of letting go.

Kevin Lucero Less

“She was terrified,” Less, sporting a diabolical look, says. “That’s one of the rewards of what I do — getting that kind of reaction.

You want your audience members to laugh when you hope they’ll laugh, sigh when you hope they’ll sigh.”

The pinnacle of Less’ career thus far occurred in 2007, when Sundance Festival named his 30minute movie, Move Me, an Official Selection. It’s about a father and son, together for the holidays, before the son moves on for the rest of his life. Tension exists when the two interact.

“There’s also a tenderness between the two,” says Less, whose professional heroes, among others, are film director/screenwriter and television producer Michael Mann and playwright/screenwriter/film director David Mamet.

“The father and son,” he adds, “bond as they work on projects together. A toolbox … it’s a character in the film, too. The last scene [spoiler alert] shows the son in the car, driving away. Underneath his coat, in the passenger seat next to him, is the toolbox. The father had placed it there; the message from the father to the son was, ‘I’ll still be with you.’ ” Bring up the 1974 movie, The Conversation, starring Gene Hackman and a 32-year-old Harrison Ford, and Less will utter one word: “Masterpiece.”

I ask Less for more of his thoughts about movies from that era.

“I watched movies like that with my dad [Phil, an attorney],” recalls Less, who finds time to teach a Cinema Appreciation class at Evanston Art Center. “The VCR years. Remember those? Movies in the 1970s were dangerous and anti-Hollywood, with characters that weren’t

Movies in the 1970s were dangerous and anti-Hollywood, with characters that weren’t so pretty, with endings that made you think.

— Kevin Lucero Less so pretty, with endings that made you think. Stanley Kubrick movies — A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, to name a couple … I loved them, loved all of them. I ask my students all the time, ‘What would Stanley Kubrick do?’

“I remind my film students, ‘It’s OK to be exceptional.’ There’s no need to produce or direct another comic-book movie. Do you want to see Batman 500 one day? I know I don’t. I’m all about unique, provocative movies, movies that have something to say.”

Alfred Hitchcock’s movies have spoken to Less. One of Less’ favorite Hitchcock flicks is Rear Window.

Another, Dial M for Murder, hit the theaters in 1954. Less portrayed a character in a play adaptation of the movie more than 10 years ago.

Dana Armstrong portrayed the love interest of Less’ character.

Less’ girlfriend of 12 years?

Armstrong.

Yet another reason for Less to be thankful for a certain drama teacher’s con.

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