Your go-to guide for all the latest local events in the weeks ahead
8 north shore sports
Highland Park High School's boys' volleyball team counting on senior middle blocker
Max Diamond to have a sparkling season
LIFESTYLE & ARTS
10 #hashtag
Catching up with Wendy Franzen, president of Lake Forest Chapter of Infant Welfare Society of Chicago (LFIWS), in advance of this month's home tour
11 home style
Go green this spring with sustainable interior design items
14 rock 'n ' roll fantasy
Sunny Afternoon, a hit-filled, true story of Ray Davies and The Kinks, opens at Chicago
Shakespeare Theater
16 man about film
Our critic gives Christopher Landon's Drop a lukewarm review and previews MobLand, a new streaming series
The E&V Network
WE ARE ENGEL & VÖLKERS
Engel & Völkers has a network that spans the World. With shops throughout the United States and all over the world, our high quality advisors are connected and provide maximum exposure for your listing. With referrals to and from Michigan, Indianapolis, San Francisco, New York, Charlotte, and even Mallorca, we have connections everywhere. If you are thinking of selling, reach out to learn how our real estate advisors can provide exposure to targeted buyers and locations.
If you are considering making a move either in the United States or internationally, we can help you find a trusted advisor who will give you the same high standard of service our clients expect from Engel & Völkers.
Find your real estate advisor at chicagonorthshore.evrealestate.com
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
NORTH SHORE DOINGS
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
NOW THROUGH APRIL 14
WATER!
WHERE: North Shore Art League
This annual North Shore Art League show returns for its fifth year, featuring art from students M. Greenberg, A. Knish, and A. Sarode available for purchase. northshoreartleague.org
NOW THROUGH APRIL 26
WINTER MARKET
WHERE: Elawa Farm
Elawa Farm invites guests to its Winter Market every Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market highlights locally sourced produce and eggs from Elawa’s farm partners, along with specialty pantry items from small businesses. elawafarm.org
NOW THROUGH APRIL 28
CONCEPTUAL COMPOSITIONS
WHERE: got art contemporary studio
Got?art contemporary studio in Winnetka is featuring a new exhibit that prioritizes form, color, and texture over representational or realistic depictions— featuring work by Piotr Antonow, Irena Siwek, and Voytek. gotartstudio.com
NOW THROUGH MAY 29
SPRING BIRD WALK
WHERE: Chicago Botanic Garden
On Thursdays and Saturdays, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. explore the best spots for locating late-winter bird residents and the early migrants of spring at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Each walk is approximately one to two hours long. Dress for the weather; binoculars and a field guide are encouraged.
Participants will meet at the Visitor’s Center. The price for this program is $24 for members and $30 for nonmembers. chicagobotanic.org
APRIL 12
BUNNY BRUNCH & EGG HUNTS
WHERE: Lakeview Center
From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., children ages 2 and older can meet the Easter Bunny, take part in an Easter egg hunt, and enjoy a delicious breakfast in this Wilmette Park District program. Registration is required and all children must be accompanied by an adult. wilmettepark.org
APRIL 18
EGG DECORATING
WHERE: Northfield Public Library
From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., decorate pretend eggs using markers, stickers, gems, and more. All children must be accompanied by an adult. wnpld.org
APRIL 19
PAINT & SIP, CHOCOLATE
BUNNY ACRYLIC PAINTING TUTORIAL
WHERE: Highwood Library
From 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., join a painting tutorial where kids will learn how to paint a chocolate Easter bunny. With easy-to-follow instructions, little artists will create their own masterpiece while having fun using colors and creative techniques. highwoodlibrary.org
APRIL 19
KIDS BOOK SALE
WHERE: Wilmette Public Library
Come to the Wilmette Public Library auditorium for a special, one-day children’s book sale from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All books are priced from 50 cents to $1. Proceeds benefit libraries damaged and destroyed by the California wildfires
earlier this year. wilmettelibrary.info
APRIL 24
KGC’S ANNUAL SPRING LUNCHEON
WHERE: Glen View Club
Kenilworth Garden Club’s (KGC) will hold its annual luncheon at Glen View Club. This year’s guest speaker is Linda Jane Holden, the renowned author who brought the story of Bunny Mellon, one of the nation's premier garden designers, to life. Holden’s talk will be accompanied by a seasonally-inspired seated lunch. Those attending will have the opportunity to purchase a selection of the author’s books and KGCdesigned and arranged topiaries. kenilworthgardenclub.com
APRIL 24
WINGS 2ND ANNUAL BLOSSOM FASHION SHOW
WHERE: 21c Museum Hotel, Chicago
WINGS will host its second annual BLOSSOM fashion show from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the 21c Museum Hotel in Chicago. The fundraiser supports programs that allow the nonprofit to continue eliminating the stigma surrounding domestic violence and celebrate victors who have blossomed. Hosted by Nigel Barker, the event features hors
d’oeuvres, an open bar, raffle, and L’Oréal swag bag. Proceeds will be used to launch new domestic violence programming and critical support services in the North Shore and beyond. wingsprogram.com
APRIL 26 TO MAY 25
LAKE FOREST SHOWHOUSE AND GARDENS
WHERE: Pembroke Lodge
The Lake Forest Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago will transform a Georgian-style Lake Forest estate, designed in 1895 by architect Henry Ives Cobb, for the 2025 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens. Featured in the 1935 redesign of the majestic 30-room home is a pool house and pool designed by David Adler, a tennis court with a warming hut, and a reflecting pond with English walled gardens. More than 45 leading landscapers and interior designers will reimagine the 15,000-square-foot mansion and its 3.5 acre grounds. Tickets are $50 per person. lakeforestshowhouse.com
APRIL 26
HOLLYWOOD IN GLENCOE TRIVIA NIGHT
WHERE: Glencoe Union Church
Back by popular demand! The Glencoe Historical Society (GHS) is once
encouraged to explore a variety of engaging activities. Participation in the program is free. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. highwoodlibrary.org
MAY 1
ENDING THE SILENCE FOR FAMILIES
WHERE: Online
again hosting Hollywood in Glencoe Trivia Night with trivia based on movies filmed on the Chicago North Shore such as Risky Business, Home Alone, The Breakfast Club, and many others. The event will start at 6:30 p.m. and will include trivia, food, and drinks. Create your trivia team of eight or allow GHS to create one for you. Costumes are welcome! Tickets are $100 per person. glencoehistory.org
APRIL 28 & MAY 4 TO JOY!
WHERE: Chicago, and Evanston
The Orion Ensemble is concluding its 32nd season with a concert series featuring two important works by Richard Strauss and Beethoven. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. at PianoForte Studios in Chicago on April 28 and at 7:30 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston on May 4. The Chicago performance will also be available for livestream. orionensemble.org
APRIL 29 & MAY 27
KOHL CHILDREN’S MOBILE MUSEUM
WHERE: Highwood Library
From 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., join Highwood library for a fun-filled visit from the Kohl Children’s Mobile Museum. All ages are
From 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., adults aged 18 and over can take part in a hourlong presentation for those caring for high-school and middle-school youth. This program covers the warning signs of mental health challenges, important facts and statistics, tips for talking with children, and strategies for collaborating with school staff. Registration is required. lakeblufflibrary.org
MAY 2
UNDER THE STARS
WHERE: Northmoor Country Club
Enjoy an elegant evening to support Family Services of Glencoe, a social and mental health service for Glencoe and the surrounding communities. Held from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., attendees at the Under The Stars gala will enjoy a chef-curated menu, dancing, live and silent auctions, and a powerful program highlighting mental health. glencoeunderthestars.org
MAY 3
BLOOM INTO SPRING
WHERE: Elawa Farm
At 5:30 p.m., join the Women’s Board of Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital for its annual benefit, Bloom Into Spring. Enjoy an evening of fine dining, engaging entertainment, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community. lfhwomensboard.nm.org
To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.
North Shore Art League show
Winnetka resident Paul suffered with prostatitis and low back pain for over 10 years. “The medications helped a little and I tried surgery but even after two procedures, I never knew if it was going to be a bad day or a worse day. Dr. Su helped me feel normal again like I could go about my life and not feel hesitant to go out with my wife or friends.”
Call (847) 868-0408 to schedule an initial consultation or visit
Men’s Health: Addressing Prostate and Sexual Health
Your Pain and Suffering Are Real
Dr. Kuan Su of Acupuncture North Clinic uses the time tested art of Acupuncture to help each patient relieve pain, improve sleep, and reduce chronic issues that other modalities have struggled with.
DWhen Glenview resident David H. came to Dr. Su, he had been struggling with prostate issues for months. “It started with frequent urination, especially at night. I couldn’t get a good night’s sleep, and it felt like it was just getting worse. Then, I noticed some discomfort and wasn’t sure what was happening.” David, like many men, found himself embarrassed and reluctant to seek help, but the physical discomfort and emotional toll were undeniable. He also noticed it was starting to affect his mental well-being and social interactions.
r. Kuan Su of Acupuncture North Clinic uses the time tested art of Acupuncture to help each patient relieve pain, improve sleep, and reduce chronic issues that other modalities have struggled to help.
Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years and has been used to treat a variety of issues. Dr. Su has specialized in treating the more complex conditions including stubborn neuropathy, chronic pain, reactions to high stress/anxiety, sleeping disorders, and men’s health issues such as erectile dysfunction and urinary issues.
Winnetka resident Paul suffered with prostatitis and low back pain for over 10 years. “The medications helped a little and I tried surgery but even after two procedures, I never knew if it was going to be a bad day or a worse day. Dr. Su helped me feel normal again like I could go about my life and not feel hesitant to go out with my wife or friends.” It’s time you let your golden years
impacted my relationship, my confidence, and even how I viewed myself. I couldn’t talk about it, and it was really hard,” Mike shared.
He works with a variety of cases and understands how important the partnership between patient and practitioner is. “I’m always looking forward to my days in my clinic because no two patients are exactly the same. Many times patients come in with a variety of issues happening at the same time. Last Tuesday, I was treating a patient for neuropathy in both feet, chronic fatigue, and insomnia and he reported that all three were improving. Understanding the importance of checking in regularly and participating in his own health have sped up his recovery and I am so excited for him!”
Mike sought out acupuncture after hearing about it from a friend who had found relief from chronic pain. “I didn’t think acupuncture could help with what I was going through, but I was willing to try anything. After a few sessions, I noticed I was starting to feel more like myself— more energy, less anxiety, and better function.”
Dr. Su’s holistic approach also focuses on lifestyle factors that can exacerbate men’s health issues, such as stress and exercise. For both David and Mike, Dr. Su recommended lifestyle adjustments to help accelerate their progress. These holistic changes complemented the acupuncture treatments and further supported their recovery.
Gale from Wilmette had been struggling with both migraines and insomnia for 7 years. “I had tried botox to help with the migraines but it only helped for a little while and I used sleeping pills because I could not fall asleep for hours. I missed having natural restful sleep. After seeing Dr. Su for a month, both started to vanish. My migraines turned into a minor headache once every other week and now I sleep like a baby.”
Dr. Su, who has been treating men’s health issues for over a decade, reassured David that he wasn’t alone and that these conditions— prostatitis, urinary incontinence, and even erectile dysfunction—are common, but often underreported due to embarrassment. “It’s easy for men to dismiss or ignore these issues, but they can impact quality of life. Physical health is tied to emotional well-being, and when one is suffering, the other can often follow,” Dr. Su explained.
“After a few weeks of acupuncture, I noticed I wasn’t getting up as often in the middle of the night. The discomfort was also reducing,” David said. “And mentally, it was a game-changer. I wasn’t constantly anxious about my health. I started to feel more like myself.”
David’s experience is not unique. Many men come to Dr. Su with concerns related to urinary health or sexual function—issues that, while difficult to talk about, can have a profound effect on daily life.
Dr. Su shares the typical stories from patients. “A recurring story that people share with me is that they have tried conventional means, they have tried new fads, they have tried medications and seen specialists yet have struggled to get any results. They say that I’m their last hope. I am always up for a challenge but what I enjoy the most about my work is when patients come in after their treatments to tell me how things are changing, how they are feeling better, and how other symptoms that they have been struggling with are going away.”
Take Mike R., a patient from Wilmette, who struggled with erectile dysfunction for years. “I felt like I wasn’t the man I used to be. It
“I really appreciated the way Dr. Su handled everything with such understanding and compassion. He didn’t make me feel ashamed, and he gave me the tools to take charge of my health again,” Mike said. “Now, I feel like I have my life back. I’m more confident, I’m active again, and my relationship is stronger.”
Georgette from Highland Park shared, “Dr. Su is so great to work with. I had been suffering from tinnitus for 11 years and doctors said nothing could help. The sound was too much but once I started seeing Dr. Su, not only did my tinnitus start to go away, my digestion was doing so much better. I felt like I could be me again. Like I could go out and have lunch with the girls and really enjoy my time being social again.”
If you or someone you care about is dealing with prostate issues, sexual health concerns, or the emotional toll of these conditions, know that you don’t have to settle. At Acupuncture North Clinic, Dr. Su provides a compassionate, holistic approach to men’s health, helping his patients regain balance, vitality, and confidence.
What once was a missing link in complementary alternative healthcare is now easily accessible to the residents of the North Shore area. If you have been struggling with chronic issues or issues that have been labeled as idiopathic or untreatable, call Dr. Kuan Su at Acupuncture North Clinic today to schedule your consultation.
If you’re ready to take the first step toward feeling better, call today to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Su. Your health and well-being are worth it.
Dr. Su is accepting a limited number of new patients due to high demand. In an effort to protect his current patient base, he is limiting the number of new patients to 8 before the end of May.
Dr. Su is accepting a limited number of new patients due to high demand. In an effort to protect his current patient base, he is limiting the number of new patients to 9 before the end of April.
It’s time you let your golden years BE
DR. KUAN SU
‘O’
MY!
The New Trier Township High School girls’ soccer team—the reigning Class 3A state champion—hasn’t allowed a goal through eight matches this spring
watched his squad earn a clean sheet— soccer lingo for zero goals allowed in a game—after each of the Trevians’ first eight matches through April 5.
Burnside’s reigning Class 3A state champion (7-0-1) defeated Maine South High School, St. Ignatius College Prep (SICP), and DePaul College Prep by respective scores of 3-0, 2-0, and 3-0 last week.
New Trier’s outstanding starting goalkeeper, Annie Fowler, is only a sophomore. Senior backup keeper Caroline Hague recently committed to extend her soccer career at Denison (Ohio)
Senior Honor Dold and Kennedy Colegrove started as defenders against visiting SICP on April 3, along with junior Abby Morton and sophomores Claire Gallagher and Bea Cirulis.
But the backline players aren’t just disruptors. They’re also forward-thinking, adept at delivering passes—mostly quick touches and spot-on ground balls in transition—as if each were lobbying for significant playing time in the midfield or up top.
“We work on that a lot,” Colegrove says of honing the challenging craft of lengthening possessions via sharp passes.
Burnside’s offense has been as formidable as his defense has in the first third of the season, outscoring foes by a combined 24-0. Talent-laden New Trier sophomore midfielder Addy Randall— worth 10 times the price of admission to witness live, except when it’s free to attend a New Trier game—scored both goals in the 2-0 defeat of SICP’s Wolfpack.
The first occurred from about eight yards out in the sixth minute, off a well-placed, lofty feed from Colegrove.
Goal No. 2 was all Randall, whose intended left-footed cross turned into an unassisted tally in the 53rd min -
ute. Randall’s ball caromed off the far post and skipped along a path near the keeper’s line before sneaking in between senior goalkeeper MC Galante’s right hand and the near post.
The unusual goal made Randall and her teammates smile.
TAPS & FLICKS: Burnside has guided Trevians teams to seven state championships since he succeeded Bob Ward before the start of the 1997 season. He won three in a four-year span from 2003-2006, three in a row from 20142016, and last year’s title at North Central College in Naperville. His 27-yearplus record at the Winnetka school through April 5 was 618-93-52. … Burnside’s assistant coaches this spring are Molly Lombardi, Bina Rexhepi, and Jeff Cobb. … Ten sophomores and freshman midfielder Catherine Shean made Burnside’s 2025 varsity team. … New Trier’s other starters vs. SICP on April 3 were midfielders Eleni Kanellos and Noa Boeing and forwards Quinn Brahm and London McCaffery.
LATE AND GREAT
Loyola Academy’s girls’ soccer team rallies for a win in its home opener, scoring twice in the final seven minutes to jolt Lockport High School’s Porters 2-1.
After the Loyola Academy (LA) girls’ soccer team got off to a 1-2 start, senior forward Lilianna Ciesla uttered one word that she thought described the Ramblers accurately.
“Underestimated,” said the Faith, Hope and Charity School alumna last week.
No longer true. Not after what LA pulled off in its home opener against Lockport High School (LHS) at Hoerster Field on April 1.
LA struck for two goals in the final seven minutes to escape with a dramatic 2-1 victory, warming the hearts of the Ramblers’ rooters in frigid conditions.
Ciesla’s right knee netted the first one in the 73rd minute off senior defender Claire Brady’s textbook corner kick. Some two minutes later, Brady provided another clutch helper, this one finding senior midfielder Izzy Garcia’s head.
“Down a goal late, for however long (18 minutes) we were, we never stopped grinding, never stopped playing hard,” said LA coach Shannon Hartinger.
“Nice early-season result for us,” she added.
Her squad had lost 1-0 to host Glenbrook North High School in its season opener on March 17, before splitting a pair of games in the Carolinas during spring break. The Ramblers’ first out-of-state test took place at Christ Church Episcopal School (CCES) in Greenville, South Carolina, where the visitors from Wilmette notched a triumph via penalty kicks after a scoreless 80 minutes.
CCES happens to be Hartinger’s alma mater.
Guess who’s in that school’s Athletics Hall of Fame.
Hartinger, Shannon.
LA improved to 3-2-0 overall on April 3 when it edged host Fenwick High School 1-0 in River Forest in the Ramblers’ Girls Catholic Athletic Conference-Red Division opener.
Garcia got the goal in the 64th minute off an assist from Ciesla at Priory Field.
LA hosts Glenbrook South High School at noon Saturday in a Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic match. The Ramblers’ other three
Malnati’s games are vs. visiting Stevenson High School at 5 p.m. April 14; vs. host New Trier Township High School at 7 p.m. April 16; and vs. an opponent to be determined on April 19.
TAPS & FLICKS: Hartinger played soccer at North Carolina State. … LA went 17-5-1 last spring. LHS lost only once in 25 matches in 2024, and had entered last week’s contest at LA with a 4-1-0 record. … Hartinger’s varsity assistant coaches are Justin Dunn and Jordan Kellgren. … The winning goalkeeper in the Lockport match, LA senior and University of Colorado Boulder-bound Chloe Zipprich, made four saves to her counterpart Olivia Luecke’s six. … LA’s other starters in that match were defenders Emma McCullough, Libby Lafferty, and Mia Wisler; midfielders Mim Fritzsche and Grace Lynch; and forwards Lily Berhalter and Nadia Clifford. … Ciesla’s equalizer against LHS was her first goal of 2025.
Addy Randall
Q & A with Highland Park HS senior volleyball player MAX DIAMOND
Max Diamond wants his voice to be a significant part of his professional career.
Look for Diamond—a senior middle blocker on the Highland Park High School (HPHS) boys’ volleyball team—to shine after college, whether that be in TV or radio. The future sports management major and broadcasting minor at the University of Arizona is the Giants’ vocal leader.
“I’m loud,” admits Diamond, coming off a successful basketball season as a 6-foot-4, 210-pound forward. “And I’m comfortable talking, especially during matches.”
But he’s also a force on defense, having soared for a combined five blocks through the Giants’ first three games.
“There’s a silly, goofy side to Max, but his serious, encouraging side comes out in matches,” says HPHS coach Jenna Hotwagner, whose squad (2-1) split two matches at the HPHS Triangular on April 5, a day after defeating Evanston Township High School (ETHS) in three sets.
“That’s a good balance,” she adds. “Max has emerged as a mature leader and a cool kid.”
HPHS defeated Zion-Benton High School (ZBHS) 25-17, 25-11 and lost 25-27, 25-19, 25-18 to Mundelein High School (MHS) at last weekend’s triangular.
Junior outside hitter Andrew Nikolakakis paces the Giants’ attack through three contests, averaging 9.3 kills; senior setter Nate Rubin lofted 36 assists in the two triangular matches, including 20 vs. MHS; senior libero/defensive specialist Austin Gerber had a team-high 16 digs in the season opener at ETHS on April 4; also at ETHS, senior hitter Hayden Kach totaled eight kills with a hitting percentage of .500; and sophomore defensive specialist Blake Chiou struck a pair of aces against
ETHS and three more vs. ZBHS.
“Our team has no weaknesses,” Diamond says.
The affable Diamond had no loss for words during a one-on-one with an inquisitor on April 5.
What is your primary team role this spring?
Provide energy.
Your teammate Austin Gerber says you’re able to jump out of the gym as a middle blocker. Your thought on that observation?
They should have built the ceiling higher.
The three words that best describe HPHS boys’ volleyball coach Jenna Hotwagner?
Determined, adaptable, fun.
If you were able to go back in time and give advice to Max Diamond, the freshman, what would you tell him?
Be yourself, stay positive.
What don’t most people appreciate about volleyball?
That team chemistry is so important in this sport. You’re not going to win much if that’s missing. You need guys communicating constantly and coming together. We’re a well-knit group when we compete.
Which teammate has the best nickname?
(Junior hitter) Joey Moyer, a redhead. We call him “Torch”. I started calling him that about two years ago.
Who’d portray you in a movie about you?
Jack Black. No, change that to Jim Carrey.
Care to share something you said recently in a classroom that was insightful?
Tough one. I’ll go with, “Sorry, I’m late. Coming from lunch.” That’s all I’ve got, sorry. I was two to five minutes late that day. Got my teacher to smile.
#HASHTAG
EDITED BY REDDING WORTH ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
#ON MY NIGHTSTAND
I have a gardening obsession with a strong focus on tulips, so I am currently re-reading Anna Pavord’s bestselling The Tulip, a fascinating and beautifully illustrated chronicle of the flower’s place in history. I am also reading Nancy Lancaster: English Country House Style, Martin Wood’s biography of American heiress and interior designer Nancy Lancaster. Lancaster, while working on her own and with the famed firm Colefax & Fowler in England, forever changed the way we design, garden, and entertain on both sides of the Atlantic. Both books tie into what is happening at the showhouse. My mind is filled with design and gardening—at work and at play!
#ON MY MOBILE
I am currently following all designers working on the showhouse and the accounts of showhouse sponsors @fredericmagazine and @schumacher1889. As a style enthusiast, I get lost in dreamy accounts of fashion houses like @dior, @adamlippes, and @gabrielahearst, and local shopping destinations @lakeforestshop and @archbylaurawhite. The Insta rabbit hole is a guilty pleasure!
WENDY FRANZEN is president of the Lake Forest Chapter of Infant Welfare Society of Chicago (LFIWS), an 85-member volunteer board. For over a century, the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago has been a lifeline for families in need, providing essential services, including high-quality medical, dental, and behavioral health care—regardless of their ability to pay. LFIWS holds two major fundraisers: Antiques and Treasures, an annual one-day sale held in September, and the biennial Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens—a nationally known and highly anticipated event. This spring, for the organization’s 20th anniversary showhouse, LFIWS will unveil the extraordinary transformation of one of Lake Forest’s great country houses, featuring 50 interior and exterior spaces reimagined by top interior and landscape designers. Franzen has worked in major museums, galleries, and a fine art auction house; served on the Auxiliary Board of the Art Institute of Chicago; and maintains Fletcher & Fork—an online destination for all things cooking, gardening, and entertaining. She considers her current work with the incredible women who serve on the LFIWS board the most meaningful and rewarding of her career. The showhouse opens to the public on April 26. Purchase tickets at lakeforestshowhouse.com.
#IN MY EARBUDS
When I am seeking joy, I listen to lifetime favorites—Prince, John Mayer, Florence & The Machine to name a few. While working and when winding down, I turn to either French café or classic jazz. American jazz pianist Bill Evans is my favorite—his live 1961 album Sunday at the Village Vanguard, recorded with his trio, has been on autoplay. Dr. Rangan Chatterjee’s Feel Better, Live More and (Lake Forest residents) Martha Zeeman and Nina Vallone’s Hiya Gorgeous are my top podcasts.
ROCK 'N' ROLL FANTASY
The North American premiere of Sunny Afternoon, the hit-filled, true story of Ray Davies and The Kinks, draws raves at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
For those who remember the 1960s British invasion, The Kinks is a band that needs no introduction. With such blockbuster hits as “Lola,” “You Really Got Me,” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy,” their rise from working class London to the top of the charts made them one of the era’s most influential artists.
But a new, critically acclaimed show now playing at The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) reveals the story behind the story—told by The Kinks lead singer Ray Davies himself.
After its debut at the UK’s Hampstead Theatre, Sunny Afternoon made its North American premiere at CST late last month to rave reviews. Based on the music of The Kinks and featuring a soundtrack of the band’s own iconic hits, the show runs through April 27.
“Anyone who knows The Kinks knows we’re a series of catastrophes turning into glorious triumph,” says Davies, lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the groundbreaking British rock band. “This is not an interpretation ... it’s coming from my perspective and very personal to me. Most of the stories come from the family in the front room where everyone played an instrument, and everyone collaborated. Yet what’s come through is that it’s a kind of timeless story. Yes, there’s a setting, but hopefully the songs transcend time. It’s about characters and situations and people trying to get through their lives.”
From London lads to rock ‘n’ roll icons, The Kinks exploded onto the music scene with a raw, energetic new sound that rocked a nation and changed the industry forever. The story of the band’s atmospheric rise to fame is told through their own prolific catalog of hit songs—all performed live onstage by the actors in a concert experience of the irresistible music that inspired generations.
With an original story, music, and lyrics by Davies and a script by Joe Penhall, Sunny Afternoon took the West End by storm—winning four Olivier Awards, including Best Musical. CST Artistic Director Edward Hall, who helmed the UK debut, also directs this North American premiere.
roll journey, which takes us from a small family home in North London to the stage of Madison Square Garden.”
“It’s a joy to be bringing this show to America for the first time, and to celebrate the incredible music of The Kinks,” he says. “Chicago is a city rich in musical history so there is no better place to begin this rock ‘n’
Sunny Afternoon features an ensemble cast that includes Emma Grace Bailey, Joy Campbell, John Carlin, Sean Fortunato, Marya Grandy, Jared D.M. Grant, Will Leonard, Michael Lepore, Ana Margaret Marcu, Ben Mayne, Kieran McCabe, Joseph
Papke, and Kayla Shipman.
Playing brothers and founding members of The Kinks are Danny Horn as Ray Davies and Oliver Hoare as Dave Davies—both reprising their roles from the award-winning West End run.
With a running time of 2 hours, 30 minutes (including an intermission), Sunny
Afternoon will have you on your feet, dancing and singing along to songs that defined a generation.
Sunny Afternoon plays at The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater through April 27. For more information, visit chicagoshakes.com/ sunnyafternoon.
BY JOE ROSENTHAL THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Throughout his football career, Ryan Mundy racked up one impressive stat after another.
At Woodland Hills High School outside of Pittsburgh, he set a school record with 54 career receptions and earned USA Today All-American Prep Honors. After playing at Michigan as a true freshman and transferring to West Virginia University, Mundy was drafted by the Steelers in 2008, was a member of the Super Bowl XLIII championship team, and also played in Super Bowl XLV against the Packers in 2011. After a stopover with the New York Giants, Mundy landed with the Bears, where he started all 16 games of the 2014 season, logging 108 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 4 broken-up passes.
But when his career abruptly ended at age 31, hastened by a back injury, Mundy found himself struggling with what to do with life after football and was dealing with anxiety and depression.
“I found myself in this very peculiar situation. I had money and resources, but I was not finding providers or spaces that were designed for me,” recalls Mundy, adding that not surprisingly, his personal experience is shared by others in the Black community.
“Sixty percent of the Black community say it’s hard to access quality health care, and almost 80 percent lack trust in the health care system,” he says, explaining that “78 percent of Black patients need insurance to access mental health care, but 60 percent of therapists don’t accept insurance.”
The trends were troubling and personal. In his extended family, Mundy had also been watching his relatives deal with type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, stroke, and Alzheimer’s.
His awareness of these dismal numbers and his own frustrating experiences pointed to an opportunity in the health care sector for this businessman and entrepreneur (Mundy took advantage of the NFL’s education programs, earning an executive MBA from the University of Miami with additional studies at Notre Dame and Wharton).
The timing was also fortuitous. The pandemic was shining a light on mental health like never before, and the Black Lives Matter movement was simultaneously prompting “a conversation about the importance of Black health in the country,” Mundy recalls. And so, in late 2020, Mundy secured his first round of funding for Alkeme, a mental health platform dedicated to the needs of the Black community. With grit and determination that echoed his days in the NFL, Mundy solicited investment partners, built the platform, and captured the media world’s at-
tention with coverage by TODAY, Forbes, and Entrepreneur magazine, among other outlets.
Alkeme’s initial offering was “like Calm
or Headspace, with a more culturally aligned approach,” notes Mundy. The product quickly grew, but he knew his team was just starting to move down the field. Earlier this year, Alkeme took the next crucial step in Mundy’s quest to create generational health for the Black community by expanding into virtual health care.
“Visitors to Alkeme Health will be able to connect with a Black therapist who accepts insurance,” Mundy says, the excitement tangible in his voice. “We’ve been making a meaningful impact over the last several years, and now we’re just really focused on taking it to the next level. The opportunity presents itself for us right now to increase the number of therapists who accept insurance and create pathways for better accessibility and connection to those therapists.”
Alkeme will also take on the burden of nonclinical activities like billing and claims submissions so that therapists can focus on helping patients. The virtual care offering will launch in Illinois this year and expand geographically in 2026.
Last summer, Mundy was joined in these efforts by Neechi Mosha, an M.D. by training whose experience includes Clarify Health Solutions and Boston Consulting Group. He’s the kind of teammate Mundy appreciated on the field back in his football days, someone with complementary skills and eager to play. With Mundy as CEO and Mosha as President, they plan to help course-correct health care for a population that’s faced mistreatment and misdiagnosis for more than 400 years.
“We’re starting with mental health, and
that’s a beachhead and a wedge into the market for us, but I don’t see us stopping there,” Mundy says. “I definitely see a day where we expand our services beyond mental health into nutrition and weight management, into primary care, and into specialty care, to become a comprehensive platform focused and specialized in serving the unique needs of the Black community. That’s our big vision. But again, we are starting with a focus on mental health because a healthy life starts with a healthy mind.”
It’s a mission that resonates strongly with this husband, father of two girls, and resi-
dent of Highland Park.
“When I came to Chicago in 2014, we didn’t know many people,” he says. “And it has been probably one of the best things that has ever happened in my life. At this point, I can’t really see myself leaving.”
Now, with his playing field shifting well beyond the 100-yard gridiron, Mundy has created a playbook for a healthy and vibrant community.
For more information, visit alkemehealth.com.
DROP
This film directed by Christopher Landon plays it too safe to thrill.
VERDICT: Drop delivers tension in spurts but never quite makes the splash its title promises.
There’s a moment in Drop —somewhere around the third menacing
MOBLAND
voicemail—when you begin to realize the film is less Hitchcock and more homesecurity PSA with a bigger budget. Christopher Landon, known more for his playful turns in horrorcomedy, trades the wink for a grimace here. Drop follows Violet (Meghann Fahy), a recently widowed mother who dips a toe back into the dating pool, only to find herself stalked, blackmailed, and terrorized over the course of one increasingly implausible evening.
The “drop” in question refers to a series of mysterious packages and escalating demands delivered by an unseen tormentor. It’s a decent premise—taut, contemporary, and mildly Kafkaesque—but like many modern thrillers, the execution can’t keep up with the concept.
A new, 10-episode crime series created by Guy Ritchie is currently streaming on Paramount+.
VERDICT: MobLand is blood in a crystal decanter—stylized, sinister, and served ice cold.
You don’t watch MobLand for the plot—you watch it for the menace in Tom Hardy’s eyes, the way Helen Mirren sips tea like she’s choosing someone to execute, and Pierce Brosnan’s voice, smoother than a whiskey bribe in Mayfair. That it has a plot at all is almost beside the point.
Created by Guy Ritchie, MobLand is a sharp-suited, slow-burn crime opera centered around the Harrigan family—a London-based criminal dynasty fraying at the edges. Brosnan plays patriarch Conrad Harrigan, all silvered charm and
dead-eyed threat. Mirren is Maeve, his regal, quietly ruthless wife. And Hardy, in the show’s most watchable turn, is Harry Da Souza—a loyal fixer with a face like a graveyard and a wardrobe that would make a tailor weep.
Ritchie, for once, trades in his usual hyperactivity for something more calculated. The series unfolds like a chess match, each episode a deliberate move in a game where nobody really wins. There are betrayals, beheadings, double agents, and a baroque subplot involving a rogue priest and a Serbian art heist. Occasionally it veers into the ridiculous, but never the boring.
The real joy is in the performances. Hardy mumbles his way through violence with bruised poetry. Mirren is magnifi-
cent—think Elizabeth II with a Glock. And Brosnan, long overdue for a role worthy of his gravitas, delivers menace wrapped in silk. If there’s a weak link, it’s the younger supporting cast, who often seem unsure whether they’re in The Godfather or Love Island: East End Edition
Visually, the show is a triumph—grey London streets gleaming like wet marble, interiors lit like oil paintings. It all feels expensive, intentional, and laced with a kind of theatrical nastiness only the British can deliver with a straight face.
Fahy is far better than the material deserves. She carries the film with enough emotional realism to make the early scenes sting, especially as the illusion of safety unravels around her. Brandon Sklenar, as the charmingthen-shifty date, injects just enough ambiguity to keep you guessing, though not quite enough to justify the third-act reveal, which lands with a shrug rather than a gasp.
Visually, the film leans into close quarters and shadowy corners, but the mood is never quite matched by the script. Dialogue ranges from serviceable to downright wooden, and there are more red herrings here than a Scandinavian buffet. By the time the villain’s motives are finally revealed, one feels less shocked than slightly inconvenienced.
It’s all executed with competence, but little courage. A thriller should provoke or disturb, but Drop plays it safe, recycling genre beats with just enough gloss to pass muster—without ever daring to get strange, surreal, or genuinely unsettling.
BY FELIX MCMILLAN, MAN ABOUT FILM ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
HUMANITARIAN AWARDS DINNER
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center hosted its annual Humanitarian Awards Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Chicago honoring the resilience and strength of Holocaust Survivors on the 80th anniversary year of liberation. More than 1,300 guests came together to pay tribute to this year’s honorees: Ann and James Goodman, and Sidney Austin LLP. During the evening, guests also heard from former CIA Director Gen. David H. Petraeus, who reflected on our military’s involvement in liberation and shared his expertise in current events shaping our world today. The event also honored two WWII veterans who courageously fought against the Nazis and proudly served our nation. This signature fundraiser is consistently one of the most successful in Chicago with a sold-out crowd of business, civic, and community leaders in attendance. Funds raised support the Museum’s mission to honor the memories of those who were lost in the Holocaust and teach universal lessons that combat hatred, prejudice, and indifference. ilholocaustmuseum.org
WEEKEND COCKTAIL
THE BEE’S KNEES
Greet guests with this refreshing, simple Prohibition Era-cocktail at your first early spring gathering.
BY WEBDY FRANZEN
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
MAKES ONE INGREDIENTS
• 2 ounces gin
• 3/4 ounce lemon juice
• 3/4 ounce honey syrup (recipe below)
• 1 large egg white
• Strip of lemon peel, for garnish
METHOD
• Fill a coupe glass with ice and set aside to chill.
• Place lemon juice, gin, honey syrup, and egg white in a cocktail shaker. Cover and shake vigorously.
• Take a peek in the shaker: when egg white is foamy, add ice, re-cover, and give it a few more shakes.
• Discard ice from glass, draining it of any residual water. Strain shaker contents into the glass. Garnish with the lemon peel.
FOR THE HONEY SYRUP
Place ½ cup honey and ½ cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk gently and frequently until honey is dissolved, about 5 to 10 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool thoroughly. Store in a closed container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 weeks.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIAH SMITH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WENDY FRANZEN
DORI THE ADORER
Dori Harris stages two North Shore run/walk events each year to honor her late mother, Arlene Kabb,
BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
A fine line tattoo of a duck adorns a spot just above Dori Harris’s left wrist.
Ask her about it. She’d light up in an instant, because it would give her another opportunity to talk about her late mother, Arlene “Grami” Kabb, who passed away unexpectedly two years ago at the age of 77.
“Everybody knew and loved her,” says the 50-year-old Harris, a Deerfield resident who grew up in Buffalo Grove and graduated from Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire. “She’d speed walk 10 miles a day every day, this 4-foot-10 woman waddling like a duck in her headphones while smiling and waving to others. Happy. Mom was always happy.”
Harris smiles—thrilled once again that she got to picture her mother doing one of the many things she loved to do.
“I think about her every day and I see her every day,” she adds. “I see her in my kids (teenagers Rex, Mack, and Emmett) every day because she lived for them and her four other grandchildren.”
The former VP of mortgage lending raises her left arm, giving her audience of one a good view of the duck tat.
“Whenever I see a duck,” a beaming Harris says, “I shout, ‘Hi, Mom!’”
Rogers Park native Arlene Kabb, along with the late Hallie Grossman, will be on the minds of hundreds of runners and walkers on Mother’s Day next month. Harris launched Best Foot Forward Events nearly two years ago, believing the best way to honor her mother would be to organize gatherings that spotlight community, charity, and fitness.
The 2nd annual North Shore Supermom 5K and Kids Fun Run will be held May 11 at Woodland Park, 1425 Wilmot Road, Deerfield. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Hallie225 Foundation. Hallie Grossman, a 2016 Deerfield High School graduate and future medical school student,
passed away in 2023 at the age of 25 after bravely battling a rare form of cancer for 10 months, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, compas sion, and love.
non profit is dedi cated to sup porting causes that were deeply important to Hallie.
John Conatser
the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, so these events (Turkey Trots, too) I’m organiz-
knew of Hallie, months before
learned from (David and
who exhausted more than a few Fitbits. If Arlene’s grandkids needed one more player for a game of backyard kickball, “Grami”—the longtime, unofficial president, VP, treasurer, and secretary of the Ernie Banks Fan Club—gladly stepped in and booted away, proving to all that she could do much more than just occasionally feed them ice cream for breakfast.
“Mom was so funny but not always on purpose,” a chuckling Harris recalls. “She’d say some of the silliest, goofiest things ever, and whenever she’d hit the dance floor, she’d take over. At the end of every phone conversation with her kids (Alan, Brad, Dori, and Julie), she’d say, ‘And that’s the story!’”
Buffalo Grove’s population in 2023 was approximately 40,000. Not all in the village knew, or knew of, Arlene Kabb, but the number of people who did was legion.
she adds, “did derful things
So did Ar-
Family and friends joined together to honor her memory by raising funds to provide academic scholarships, medical grants, and camp/experience grants for deserving individuals in need of financial aid.
“Mom started speed walking in her 40s, and she completed at least six marathon walks,” Harris says. “She’d race to raise money for charities, including her favorite,
lene Kabb. Family, friends, and the Buffalo Grove community meant the world to her. She served Twin Groves Middle School as a secretary, as well as the school’s PTO president, and worked as an administrative substitute at schools.
The first to volunteer for fundraising events for Kildeer Countryside School District 96 programs was usually the woman
“I can’t tell you how many times people came up to me and said, ‘I saw your mom walking today,’” says Harris, whose father, Harold, lives in Vernon Hills. “Sometimes our family would set an over/under on the number of people who’d come up to Mom and say hi to her at a restaurant or at another public setting. Mom could have run for village president and would’ve won the election easily.
“The community, not just her family, lost a great woman.”
Dori trained for her first marathon run with her future husband, Kevin. They were friends at the time and ended up with identical times, on purpose, at the Chicago Marathon.
Their sons’ ages range from 13 to 17.
“I love the chaos involved in raising three teenagers,” Harris says. “But there’s a lot of love at home, just like there was when I was a kid.”
To register for the 2nd annual North Shore Supermom 5K and Kids Fun Run, visit bestfootforwardevents.com. For more information about the Hallie225 Foundation, visit hallie225.org.
Wendy Franzen, Cheyanne Lencioni, Bill McLean, Joe Rosenthal, Redding Worth
A rarely available 2-bedroom, 1-bath unit nestled within a charming, historical building, just steps away from Northwestern University, the Lakefront, and the heart of downtown Evanston. From here, travelling to and from Downtown Chicago and the North Shore is a breeze. The unit is tastefully updated, offering a stunning living space complete with a dedicated dining area. Two large bedrooms also provide ample closet space, while the updated full bath adds a touch of modern comfort. The kitchen has been fully renovated, boasting brand new appliances and finishes. The building features a gorgeous entryway, and an expansive garden, private to the building.
Please reach out to Glo or Zack for more information on this gorgeous home.
