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 acupuncturenorthclinic.com
191 WAUKEGAN RD SUITE 102 NORTHFIELD, IL 60093
Men’s Health: Addressing Prostate and Sexual Health
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.
When 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.
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.
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 impacted my relationship, my confidence, and even
how I viewed myself. I couldn’t talk about it, and it was really hard,” Mike shared.
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.
“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.”
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.
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 March.
It’s time you let your golden years BE GOLDEN!
DR. KUAN SU
TRUSTED BY CLIENTS
RESPECTED BY PEERS
“Susan is the ultimate expert in Glencoe real estate. She worked with us to make sure we landed our dream home with all of the knowledge to make sure we made an informed decision on critical parts of the transaction. She's a skillful negotiator and others would be lucky to have her on their team.”
Glencoe Buyer, Riva Bakal
“Susan Maman is one of those rare brokers who’s outstanding reputation is fully deserved . We entrusted her with selling our Glencoe family and worked successfully with Susan for over a year to find us our new home. Her knowledge of the communities and market climate is invaluable.”
Glencoe Seller/Highland Park Buyer, William Marcus
“Susan is the consummate pro . Outstanding in every respect, including knowledge of the market, negotiating skills , and customer service . The whole process of buying and selling is so much better with Susan there to help.”
Winnetka Buyer and Seller, Russ Strobel
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L E V A T E D L I V I N G
NEWS
10 north shore doings
Your go-to guide for all the latest local events this month
12 go for the gold
Lake Forest Scouts set to compete for the state championship this weekend at Chicago’s United Center
14 north shore sports
New Trier High School senior gymnast Clara Crossgrove wins floor exercise title at state meet, collects only the second state gold medal in program history
LIFESTYLE & ARTS
16 #hashtag
Learn more about Alison Fragale, author of the national bestseller Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve
18 novocaine
This absurd, yet heartfelt, action comedy starring Jack Quaid invites debate
19 toward zero
When you elevate your home with fine furnishings and design from John Plunkett Interiors, you’ll enjoy elevated dining at the renowned Aboyer Brasserie
Spend $1,000 at Plunkett and receive a complimentary $100 GIFT CARD for Aboyer It’s a North Shore Win-Win!
with Aboyer Brasserie and John Plunkett Interiors 6
9 Highwood Ave, Highwood, IL • facebook.com/audoriginals2 (847) 579-8052 • Open Wed - Sat 12:30-4:30, or by appointment
Anjelica Huston reigns in a sumptuous, BBC Agatha Christie adaptation
20 culinary icon
A look back at the life of Nancy Brussat, founder of Convito Italiano in Wilmette,
22 home design
Get ready for spring with these green design pieces
22 weekend poem
Sit back and contemplate the world around you with this weekend's poem
24 north shore foodie
Add this Russian Vegetable Pie recipe to your menu this weekend
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
26 sunday breakfast
Highland Park native Bill Mass aims high, plays pivotal role in Keshet's acquisition of space for the nonprofit's campus
Over 100,000 Readers Weekly
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The Right Advisor
When selling or buying your home, one of the most important pieces is finding the right advisor to work with. As the real estate market is always changing, it is important to have someone who knows how to navigate these changes. At Engel & Völkers, our real estate advisors are not just real estate agents. They have the tools, network and resources to elevate the standard of service they provide their clients. At Engel & Völkers we don’t simply have agents, but rather trusted advisors to guide our clients through their home journey with precise knowledge and distinguished care. 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 WE ARE ENGEL & VÖLKERS
BY MONICA KASS ROGERS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
There was a time when anyone in the Chicago area needing a fence, basketball hoop, playground, or trampoline equipment headed up Skokie Valley Road to get it from “the guy on 41” in Highland Park. In fact, owner Stan Ascher was so legendary for the Fenceworks business he founded at that location more than a half century ago, Michael Jordan even went there to buy one of his hoops.
Today, while Fenceworks is no longer located on U.S. 41, Ascher, is still “the guy” who along with the next two generations of his family, continues to make Fenceworks the area’s leading one-stop-shop for fences, hoops, trampolines, and playground equipment.
Relocating to a larger facility in Northbrook with an expansive indoor showroom has made it easier for customers to shop throughout the year, giving them more time to think through fence and playground planning,
“Our year-round showroom has been really helpful for our clients,” says Jake Stotter, vice president and third generation in the family business, “A lot goes into these decisions. Selecting a fence or playground equipment is not something you just walk into because the choices you make significantly influence the overall appearance, functionality, and value of your property.”
Whether clients are shopping for a fence, trampoline, basketball equipment, or playground set-up, Fenceworks approaches each customer relationship as a partnership. Together, the team dedicates itself to the kind of white glove treatment customers can’t get from a big-box store.
“If you order from Amazon or a national retailer, you’re just going to get some guy in a truck who comes and drops big boxes on your driveway which may sit there for weeks until you find a handyman or somebody who can put it all together,” says Stotter. “With us—from consultation to installation to following through with new requests for add-
ons to playgrounds as children grow—we are with you all the way.”
Adding to Ascher’s 58 years of experience, company president Sandy Diamond, second generation in the family business, has specialized in the fence division for 30 years. Stotter has been heading the basketball, playground and trampoline departments since he joined the firm in 2023. And the company’s installation experts have been with Fenceworks for decades.
“We do everything we can to help answer questions and educate them about all of the options to ensure they come away with exactly what they need,” he says.
“If they need a fence, the first question we always ask is, ‘What is the purpose or the goal of the fence?’” Diamond adds. “Is it security? Privacy? Durability and longevity?
Aesthetics? You also must determine what the budget is, and how much maintenance is a homeowner willing to do.”
Chain link fences may offer practical safety, but vinyl privacy fences completely shield a backyard from outsiders’ views. Wooden fences are classically beautiful but require painting and sealing to protect from water damage and extend their life. To reach a fencing solution that addresses multipurpose needs, many homeowners will select a combination of fencing styles.
While installation procedures haven’t changed much over the years, advancements in materials technology and supplier craftsmanship have increased buyer options. To keep up, Fenceworks is continually researching new material developments, and finding “best-ofs” in the playground, basketball
equipment and trampoline realms.
“Thirty years ago, 85 percent of the fences we sold were wood,” says Diamond. “But now that's about 65 percent, due to increased sales in composite, vinyl, and aluminum fences.”
But whatever a guest chooses, Fencework’s history and experience has equipped it with a deep knowledge-base to help it serve. The company has installed 150,000+ fences since it began.
“70 percent of our business comes to us through recommendations,” sums Ascher. “We are now putting in fences and equipment for the sons and grandsons of families who first came to us 50 years ago. This speaks to the fact that we have earned their trust, and we will continue to do so, one customer at a time.”
NORTH SHORE DOINGS
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
NOW THROUGH MARCH 23
THE ORCHID SHOW
WHERE: Chicago Botanic Garden
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Chicago Botanic Garden’s The Orchid Show reveals viewers in the beauty of India. This includse a floor-toceiling peacock, a towering banyan tree, and pigment powders representing Holi all made out of orchids. chicagobotanic.org
NOW THROUGH MARCH 23
I AND YOU
WHERE: Citadel Theatre
Experience an ode to life, love, youth, and the strange beauty of human connection. This show has performances at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 3 p.m. on Sundays, and 1 p.m. on Wednesday March 19. citadeltheatre.org
NOW THROUGH MARCH 31
ECHOLOCATION
WHERE: Vivid Art Gallery
Stop in to Winnetka’s Vivid Art Gallery this month to see Chicago artists Izzo Cho and Lainey Peltier's work. Cho’s work is meant to be a commentary on her Korean American heritage, celebrating earnest but humorous attempts to pay homage to her transnational upbringing. Peltier’s work, on the other hand, is focused on what she sees in the world around her. vividartgallery.net
NOW THROUGH MARCH 31
GRAB N’ GO GARDEN KIT
WHERE: Lake Forest Library
Stop by the Adult Reference Desk this month to pick up a kit containing two seed packets (randomized),
soil peat pellets, and biodegradable pots to start your own garden! Supplies are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis; limit 2 kits per household. These kits are available while supplies last. lakeforestlibrary.org
NOW THROUGH APRIL 5
POSTMEMORY
WHERE: The Art Center Highland Park
Postmemory, an exhibit at The Art Center Highland Park, explores how the next generation relates to the personal, collective, and cultural trauma of their predecessors. This series by artist Nicole Gordon is inspired by intimate interviews of her family history of immigration and assimilation from Eastern Europe to South Africa, Cuba ,and ultimately to the United States. These stories, while at times rife with displacement and emotional upheaval, are ultimately filled with hope, aspiration, resilience, and pride. theartcenterhp.org
NOW THROUGH APRIL 24
PATTERNS AND POEMS IN NATURE
WHERE: North Shore Senior Center
Chicago Alliance of Visual Arts is hosting a joint exhibition with the North Shore Senior Center featuring Kathleen Haslwanter, Christine George, Maryse Richards, and Karen Beatty. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. celebrate the spring season and explore the beauty of patterns and repetition in art. wearecava.org
MARCH 16
I WILL GIVE MY LOVE AN APPLE
WHERE: Nichols Concert Hall
At 7:30 p.m., the Music Institute Chorale offers a celebration of folk songs
from around the world, including Ukraine, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Nigeria, Mexico, Haiti, Spain, England, and Ireland, as well as Bartok’s Slovak folk songs. This free concert will be conducted by Daniel Wallenberg with Gregory Shifrin on piano. musicinst.org
MARCH 16 & 23
SPRING FAMILY FESTIVAL
WHERE: Kohl Children’s Museum
From 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., get ready for an afternoon of fun and baby animal exploration. There will be meet and greets with reptiles and amphibians, a petting zoo, an opportunity to meet Rapunzel, and so much more. Tickets are on sale now and capacity is limited. kohlchildrensmuseum.org
MARCH 18
KOHL CHILDREN’S
MOBILE MUSEUM
WHERE: Highwood Library
From 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., stop by the Highwood Library for a fun-filled visit from the Kohl Children’s Mobile Museum! All ages are encouraged to explore a variety of engaging activities. Participation in the program is free of charge. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. highwoodlibrary.org
MARCH 20
SIT & KNIT
WHERE: Northfield Public Library
Spend the afternoon with fellow knitters in the Community Room at Northfield Public Library. From 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. adults of all levels of experience are welcome. Basic supplies will be provided and library staff will be present to assist. Registration is required. wnpld.org
MARCH 20
WINGS 40TH
ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION
WHERE: Merchandise Mart Celebrate the 40th anniversary of WINGS from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago. For four decades, this nonprofit organization has offered life-changing programs that help to break the cycle of domestic violence. Gala attendees will enjoy an open bar featuring a signature purple cocktail, delicious appetizers, delightful desserts, and a few surprises. wingsprogram.com
MARCH 21 & 28
SENSORY SHENANIGANS
WHERE: Winnetka Public Library
Enjoy an hour of interactive play for children from birth to 4 years old from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Winnetka Public Library. The activities will foster fine motor skills and concepts through play. This program will be fun, but messy, so parents are encouraged to dress children accordingly. Adults must accompany children for this program. No drop offs permitted. wnpld.org
MARCH 25
TINY BOOK WORKSHOP
WHERE: Glencoe Public Library
Youth in grades 4 to 7 can create tiny versions of their favorite books from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Books can be held, worn, or added to a keychain. Registration is required. glencoelibrary.org
MARCH 25
PLAYHOUSES AND PRIVILEGE
WHERE: Online
Join Kenilworth Historical Society on Zoom from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. to discuss Abigail A. Van Slyck’s new book Playhouses and Privilege: The Architecture of Elite Childhood. The book examines children’s playhouses built on British and American estates between the 1850s and mid-1930s— including the Joseph Sears family log cabin playhouse, originally built in the 1880s on Prairie Avenue in Chicago and now located outside the Kenilworth Assembly Hall. Registration is required and priced at $5 for residents and $15 for non-residents. kenilworthhistory.org
APRIL 3
THE GREAT MIGRATION & THE GREAT WAR: ENGINES OF CHANGE
WHERE: Lake Bluff Library
From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., learn how the shock waves of the Great Migration and
the Great War in the early 20th century resonate to this day at this Lake Bluff Library program. Join Clarence Goodman to discover the lesser-known ways these two events influenced and affected each other. Registration is required. lakeblufflibrary.org
APRIL 26 TO MAY 25 LAKE FOREST SHOWHOUSE & GARDENS WHERE: Pembroke Lodge The Lake Forest Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago will transform a limestone 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 30room 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 acres. Tickets are $50 per person. lakeforestshowhouse.com
To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.
Rendering of the 2025 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens by local artist Martha Nippert
& SOLD
“Cory is the best! This is the second time I’ve used his services (four if you count buying AND selling). Starting with Cory’s considerable marketing and brokerage skills, he generated a lot of interest in my home and we had a quick sale! He interacts with people in the best manner, even when discussing difficult or stressful issues. Cory is also very skillful dealing with the back end of the home sale, dealing with inspections, attorneys, lenders, contractors etc. The buyer requested a 15-day closing and Cory was instrumental with making that happen. Even better, he’s the kind of guy you like being with! He helped me so much! I highly recommend Cory.”
—Lauri Hanson
RAVINIA
GO FOR THE GOLD
Lake Forest Scouts hockey to battle for the state title for the first time since 1988.
For the first time in nearly three decades, a Lake Forest Scouts Hockey team will compete in the AHAI State Championship, set to take place at Chicago’s United Center at noon on Sunday, March 16.
The Scouts Hockey JV Gold team earned their spot in the final after a sudden-death overtime victory against Loyola in the Final Four last weekend. The 1-0 thriller secured their spot in the championship game, where they will now face Providence for the State title. Their road to the finals also included a hard-fought win against York in the Elite Eight at Addison Ice Rink.
This achievement marks a monumental moment for Lake Forest athletics—the last time a Scouts Hockey team reached a state championship was in 1988. That year, Varsity player Scott Dean, then a freshman, played a pivotal role in securing the title and was named MVP. Now, nearly three years later, the Scouts have a chance to etch their names into program history once again.
While the Scouts prepare for the biggest game of the season, they are also battling for another championship title. The team has simultane-
ously advanced to the Scholastic Hockey League (SHL) League Championship, where they will face off against Loyola. Their path to the final included a dominant performance against Glenbrook South in two games and a hard-fought series win over York in three games.
The JV Gold roster features 20 players from Lake Forest High School, including a mix of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. Under the guidance of Hockey Director Steve Sarauer, Head Coach Mike McCann, and Assistant Coach Claude Desgagne, the team has developed into a formidable force on the ice.
“We place an emphasis on community and tradition and take pride in playing for something bigger than ourselves,” explains JV Gold head coach Mike McCann. “This opportunity was hard-earned and our performance reflects each Scouts Hockey player who has worn our jersey.”
With history on the line, Scouts fans are encouraged to pack the United Center on Sunday and show their support by wearing blue and gold or Scouts gear.
For more information, follow @lfscoutshockey on Instagram.
Lake Forest Scouts JV Gold celebrates win against Loyola on March 8. PHOTOGRAPHY
BY LIAM LUMPP
MARIN ALSOP • THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
HEART • GRACE JONES • JANELLE MONÁE • QUEEN! FROM METRO/SMARTBAR • THE MOHAN SISTERS
ANGELA HEWITT • THE ALLMAN BETTS BAND • THE RECORD COMPANY • COUNTING CROWS
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM • TAJ MAHAL & KEB’ MO’ • ABRAHAM ALEXANDER • ELENA MOON PARK • KURT ELLING
THE BLACK CROWES • JAMES TAYLOR • TINY HABITS • DAVID FOSTER & CHRIS BOTTI • KATHARINE MCPHEE
TONY SIQI YUN • DISPATCH • JOHN BUTLER • DONAVON FRANKENREITER • ISIDORE QUARTET
DIANA KRALL • JUILLIARD STRING QUARTET • LINDSEY STIRLING • THE ROOTS • AL GREEN OPERA FOR THE YOUNG • “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC • PUDDLES PITY PARTY • BRASS FROM THE PAST • NAS CHICAGO • KYGO • DAN TYMINSKI BAND • CHUCHO VALDÉS, PAQUITO D’RIVERA & ARTURO SANDOVAL
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JUANES • RONNIE BAKER BROOKS • JANAI BRUGGER • SASHA COOKE • CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE
LAURA DOHERTY & THE HEARTBEATS • HIMARI • NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND • BRIT TAYLOR • BECK • MOLLY LEWIS
EDWIN OUTWATER • MOLLY YEH • VADIM KARPINOS • EDWARD HARRISON • BLUES TRAVELER • GIN BLOSSOMS
SPIN DOCTORS • BIRDS AND PHOENIX • STEPHEN WILLIAMSON • SPAFFORD • ANA MARÍA MARTÍNEZ
KEVIN MURPHY • LANG LANG • YIMIAO CHEN • PLÍNIO FERNANDES • CELESTE MORALES • EDMOND RODRIGUEZ
MORGAN FREEMAN’S SYMPHONIC BLUES • TRAIN • EDWIN MCCAIN • LAURA JACKSON • ZLATOMIR FUNG
KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD • SARAH HICKS • DJ CRENSHAW • EARTH, WIND & FIRE • DAN TEPFER
LIDIYA YANKOVSKAYA • RAY CHEN • LAURIE BERKNER • LOUIS LANGRÉE • GARRICK OHLSSON
KARL DENSON’S TINY UNIVERSE • APOLLO’S FIRE • VOCES8 • CYNTHIA ERIVO • PETER OUNDJIAN
NOBUYUKI TSUJII • LUCY KALANTARI & THE JAZZ CATS • DAVID ROBERTSON • SHEKU KANNEH-MASON
LINCOLN TRIO • HENHOUSE PROWLERS • ALMOND & OLIVE • LENNY KRAVITZ • MAREN MORRIS • JOHN LEGEND
HAYMARKET OPERA • NICOLE CABELL • UB40 • BUENA VISTA ORCHESTRA • THE SOUND OF MUSIC SING-ALONG
MARVEL STUDIOS INFINITY SAGA • ANTHONY PARNTHER • VICTOR SANTIAGO ASUNCIÓN
MAGIC PIANO & THE CHOPIN SHORTS • RAY LAMONTAGNE • LA ORIGINAL BANDA EL LIMÓN
COMO LA FLOR: THE ULTIMATE SELENA TRIBUTE EXPERIENCE • AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!
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NORTH SHORE SPORTS
BY BILL MCLEAN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
GEORGE PFOERTNER
Clara Crossgrove was a clear favorite to at least medal in the uneven parallel bars segment at last month’s girls’ gymnastics state meet in Palatine.
The New Trier Township High School (New Trier) senior had bronzed in the event at last year’s state meet and performed a stellar 9.5 bars routine at the Mundelein High School Sectional Meet on February 13.
Crossgrove hauled a state gold medal home on February 22. But it wasn’t for nailing the difficult moves in her specialty.
The Trevian wowed all in the floor exercise segment instead, topping the field with a score of 9.55.
“Floor has never been my main event,” Crossgrove says. “The priority all season, my focus from the start, was to go for it on bars.
“Never had I ever thought, ‘Oh, I could win state on floor.’”
Crossgrove had two things going for her on the second day of the state meet: She didn’t have to think about an event other than floor exercise, and she had added oomph to her routine’s first tumbling pass in midseason, incorporating a Rudi (front 1-and-a-half twist)
TREVIAN FLOORS ’EM
New Trier Township High School senior gymnast and uneven-bars standout Clara Crossgrove surprises floor-exercise field, captures gold at state meet.
to a back tuck and a split jump.
Ten gymnasts had qualified to the floor finals session from the state meet’s preliminary session on February 21. Crossgrove went fourth, tumbling and dancing to music that had been used in competition by Ryann Segall (New Trier, Class of 2023).
“It’s a fun, jazzy-type of music,” Cross grove says. “I needed it to be upbeat so my teammates could dance to it while I performed my routine.”
Crossgrove, also a club gymnast at Glenview-based Dreams and Dance, put on quite a show for the judges and spectators at Palatine High School.
“Clara wasn’t just doing her routine,” New Trier coach Jen Pistorius recalls. “She was per forming it and showing it off. She looked at the crowd and was engaging. Her confident was so evident.
“And the dance she had
HARLEE MOTORS TO ANOTHER STATE TITLE
in her routine really fit her personality,” she adds.
There was one concern ahead of what would be Crossgrove’s final routine as a high school
“Stepping out of bounds after my first pass,” Crossgrove says. “One foot out of bounds would’ve cost me a tenth of a point. Two feet would have meant a threetenths of a point.”
Crossgrove stayed in bounds. Concerned no more, she then executed the rest of her routine buoyantly and cleanly.
The toughest part after that? Waiting for the six other floor finalists to complete their shows.
“It still hasn’t hit me that I won state on floor,” says Crossgrove,
World Championships in Greece. “You would never know she’s a two-time state champion in wrestling and one of Team USA’s best in judo.
“Intelligent with a fantastic work ethic, she pretty much wrestled how we’d expected her to wrestle at state,” he adds. “Harlee was there to dominate and have fun, and that’s what she did.”
Hiller placed third at state at 105 pounds as a freshman and earned the first girls’ wrestling state gold medal in program history as a 105-pound sophomore. She took state runnerup honors at 115 pounds last winter.
who plans to major in business at Indiana University.
New Trier finished in seventh place (141 points) in the team standings behind Crossgrove’s 10th-place showing in the all-around (36.8).
“Such a hard worker, such a confident gymnast, such a great kid,” Pistorius says. “Clara had so much fun in the gym all season; her joy was evident.
“I will truly miss her.”
Crossgrove became only the second Trevian to capture a state gold medal in girls’ gymnastics. Maeve Murdock was the first, tying a Maine South High School Hawk for first place on the balance beam in 2017.
The former Hawk’s name?
Caleigh Pistorius, Jen’s daughter.
Crossgrove’s classmate Sammy Mills finished 24th in the all-around (35.45) at the state meet, four spots behind Lake Forest High School sophomore Lyla Drowne (35.975). Drowne placed fourth on vault with a 9.525, becoming the first Scout to medal at state—in any event—since Kristin Fisch took fifth on vault in 2020.
Loyola Academy senior Harlee Hiller captures her second wrestling state title in three years.
A nudge from Mom in 2021 was all it took. Harlee Hiller was a freshman at Loyola Academy (LA) and an accomplished practitioner of judo when her mother, Kelly Amonte Hiller, encouraged her to give wrestling a shot. Girls’ wrestling had recently been sanctioned as an Illinois High School Association (IHSA) sport.
“My mom thought I’d enjoy the team environment and make friends as a wrestler,” recalls Hiller, now a senior. “I’m glad I went out for it.”
Unlike many others—wrestlers who had to face Hiller in four varsity seasons.
Hiller overwhelmed Mount Zion High School junior Sydney Cannon 12-0 in the final at 115 pounds to win her second state championship in three years at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington on March 1.
The major decision doubled as an exclamation point to her 27-1 season.
“Harlee is an awesome, wonderful, and humble human being,” says LA coach Matt Collum, a Neuqua Valley High School graduate who captured a state wrestling title (145 pounds) in 2004, and, at age 37, won a gold medal at 70 kilograms at the 2023 Veterans
“Coach Collum helped me incorporate throws,” Hiller says, referring to upper-body moves preferred by most judo standouts in the sport of wrestling. “A lot of wrestling coaches consider throws too risky. He also helped me develop different ways to defend legs.”
Ranked No. 5 in her weight class by USA Wrestling, Hiller’s only loss in the 2024-2025 IHSA season was to USA Wrestling’s fourthranked 115-pound grappler.
“Wrestling has taught me a lot,” says Hiller, who trains at Izzy Style Wrestling in Addison. “Through it, I’ve learned how to overcome adversity, along with the values of hard work and determination. I’ve gained confidence, too, and not just as a wrestler.”
Hiller’s mother and father, Scott, serve as Northwestern University women’s lacrosse
coaches. Kelly is the Wildcats’ eight-time NCAA champion head coach; Scott is one of her assistants. Harlee’s uncle Tony Amonte is a former Chicago Blackhawks right wing. Now that’s a famous trio. Each looks up to a certain teen in the family.
New Trier Township High School senior Jillian Giller took fifth at state at 140 pounds, recording a fall at 4:55 in the fifth-place match to cap her 48-4 season.
Collum also coaches boys’ wrestling at LA. Two of his Ramblers—freshman Niko Odiotti (106 pounds, 30-3 record) and junior Kai Calcutt (215 pounds, 37-1)—each finished runner-up at the Class 3A state meet in Champaign on February 22.
“Both had tremendous seasons, and we’re extremely proud of them,” says Collum.
Harlee Hiller.
Q & A with Loyola Academy senior hoopster
DONOVAN ROBINSON
Future Big Ten football player Donovan Robinson wore No. 11 as a member of the Loyola Academy (LA) boys’ basketball team this winter.
In the last win of the Ramblers’ Sweet 16 hoops season—a 45-42 defeat of Niles North High School in a Class 4A sectional semifinal at New Trier Township High School on March 5—the 6-foot-4 Robinson came up big, pouring in a game-high 26 point and grabbing nine rebounds.
LA, which trailed 25-22 at intermission, scored 11 points in the third quarter.
Robinson netted all of them.
Shortly after securing his final rebound, with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Robinson was fouled and made a free throw to give LA a 44-42 lead. His free throw two seconds later capped the night’s scoring in Winnetka.
“Donovan scored, rebounded, and played his tail off on defense for us,” Ramblers coach Tom Livatino said of the University of Washingtonbound football player, who suited up as a defensive back for LA’s three-time reigning Class 8A state champions last fall but will likely play linebacker at the next level.
LA senior post player Brendan Loftus scored eight points and snared 10 rebounds in the sectional semifinal, and junior guard Trey Williams finished with seven points and four boards.
LA lost 48-32 to Evanston Township High School in the sectional final on March 7, finishing with a 26-9 record.
The soft-spoken, respectful Robinson, a Northbrook Junior High School alum nus, fielded questions after the sectional semifinal win last week.
Words that immediately come to mind when you think of Ramblers coach Tom Livatino?
Energetic, winner, caring, loving.
Your primary roles this year compared to those last year?
I came off the bench last year. This year (as a starter), I wanted to help my team win games by playing good defense. We do well when we get big stops.
Your team’s most meaningful win to date? And why?
Winning the Ignatius Cup (defeating St. Ignatius College Prep 48-45 at Loyola University on December 13). Big game, big rival.
What’s the oddest comment you’ve ever heard from an opposing player during a break in action at a basketball
#HASHTAG
EDITED BY REDDING WORTH ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
#ON MY NIGHTSTAND
There’s almost always an Emily Henry novel on my nightstand—it’s like a Hallmark movie in book form! For nonfiction, I’m excited about Talk by Alison Wood Brooks and The Doors you Can Open by Rosalind Chow—inspirational science-based books from two of my favorite colleagues.
#ON MY MOBILE
I love Chicago-based stylist Chellie Carlson’s Style Society—a weekly drop of fashion advice in my inbox every month. I also read every issue of Abby Davisson’s Practically Deliberate newsletter—Abby, co-author of Money and Love—always has great tips for living both purposefully and spontaneously.
ALISON FRAGALE is a research psychologist, award-winning professor at UNC-Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School, keynote speaker, and author of the national bestseller Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve. She is on a mission to help others—especially women—use behavioral science to excel at work and in life. Fragale has spent 20 years researching negotiation, power, and influence. She also shares practical advice, inspirational stories, and proven strategies that help women gain the status and authority needed to spark change in their lives. Her research has been published in the most prestigious academic journals in her field and her book has been featured in major news outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, The Financial Times, and more. Alison lives in Chicago with her husband and three children, who are all named after professional Chicago athletes. As an author, professor, researcher, speaker, wife, and mother, Fragale is constantly on the go. Here’s what’s inspiring her.
#IN MY EARBUDS
I find reading relaxing and listening effortful. I don’t think I’ve ever completed a single podcast episode or audiobook. If my AirPods are in, it usually means I’m on a call or I’m doing a Peloton run. However, I have been interviewed on 50 podcasts and counting for my book so I got to meet hosts of amazing podcasts like Live Greatly by Kristel Bauer and The Smart Dating Academy Podcast by Bela Gandhi—two likeable bad asses in Chicago!
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5 BED, 4.2 BATH – $2,450,000
NOVOCAINE
This absurd, yet heartfelt, action comedy starring Jack Quaid invites debate among critics.
BY
VERDICT: Jack Quaid has officially arrived. Novocaine is a rollicking, absurd, and surprisingly heartfelt romp that leans into its premise with gusto. While not without its flaws, it delivers enough laughs, thrills, and inventive action sequences to stand out in a crowded field of forgettable action-comedies. It won’t change the genre, but it does give it a much-needed shot in the arm—no anesthetic required. If nothing else, Novocaine proves that Quaid isn’t just Hollywood royalty—he’s a star in his own right.
and riveting—a high-concept, pain-free punch-up that doesn’t take itself too seriously, even when the bones start breaking. Novocaine is built on a delightfully absurd premise: Quaid’s character, Nathan Caine, a mild-mannered bank manager, suffers from congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP). This means he can take a baseball bat to the ribs and barely register a raised eyebrow, but also that he has to be maddeningly careful about mundane tasks—one slip of a knife while chopping vegetables, and it’s a trip to the ER without realizing it.
Naturally, this rare condition becomes both his greatest weakness and, when his love interest Sherry (Amber Midthunder) is kidnapped by a gang of criminals, his unexpected superpower.
What follows is a thoroughly entertaining, frequently bonkers action-comedy hybrid where Nathan barrels through shootouts, fistfights, and elaborate chases, oblivious to the bodily trauma he’s sustaining. There are shades of Die Hard here (if John McClane had a neurological disorder), with a bit of The Nice Guys sprinkled in for good measure. The film delights in its own lunacy, finding fresh ways to exploit Nathan’s condition while never losing sight of the genuine stakes at play.
Quaid has always had an affable everyman quality, but here, he dials it up to eleven. He’s got the physicality of an action star but retains the comedic instincts that made him a standout in The Boys There’s a touch of early Harrison Ford in his performance—a self-deprecating hero who can land a punch but also knows when to wince (or, in this case, when he should be wincing). His line delivery is effortless, his expressions a perfect blend of exasperation and determination, and his chemistry with Midthunder is surprisingly electric.
Hollywood’s a peculiar place, isn’t it?
A land where surnames open doors but legacies loom large, casting shadows that can either propel or paralyze an actor’s career. Jack Quaid, however, has spent the last few years proving he’s more than just a genetic cocktail of his famous parents. With Novocaine , he steps into fullblown leading man territory, wielding his signature charm, impeccable comic timing, and a surprising knack for action. The result? A film that’s equal parts ridiculous
Speaking of Midthunder, she does more than just play the obligatory “love interest.” Her Sherry is sharp, resourceful, and has enough agency to avoid the usual damsel-in-distress pitfalls. Their dynamic is playful yet believable, making you actually root for them amidst the carnage.
Then there’s Ray Nicholson—son of that Nicholson—who plays the film’s antagonist, Simon. Dripping with smarmy charisma and just the right amount of menace, Nicholson relishes the role, turn -
ing Simon into a villain who is as entertaining as he is dangerous. He brings the same unpredictability that made his father a cinematic legend, and while Novocaine is hardly The Shining , he makes for a delightfully demented antagonist. If Novocaine stumbles, it’s mostly in its pacing. The second act occasionally meanders, unsure whether to double down on the comedy or lean into the action. Some gags overstay their welcome, and while the film is self-aware, it occasionally flirts with excess, stretching some of its more absurd moments a bit too thin. Additionally, while the fight choreography is inventive, the overuse of quick cuts and
shaky cam can be a tad distracting.
Critically, the film has sparked mixed reactions. Some reviewers have lauded its originality and Quaid’s performance, while others have found its violence excessive and its humor hit-or-miss. The San Francisco Chronicle noted its brutal fight scenes may alienate some viewers, while DiscussingFilm praised its cleverness and scrappy energy, calling it a breath of fresh air in the action-comedy space. Either way, it’s a film that invites debate—always a good sign in a genre often saturated with paint-by-numbers blockbusters.
FELIX MCMILLAN, MAN ABOUT FILM ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
TOWARDS ZERO
Anjelica Huston reigns in a sumptuous Agatha Christie adaptation, now streaming on the BBC.
VERDICT: Towards Zero may not be one of Agatha Christie’s most famous works, but in the hands of the BBC and an extraordinary Anjelica Huston, it becomes a masterful slow-burn mystery dripping with tension and elegance. A murder most refined, and a performance most unforgettable.
homes, cocktails before calamity, and a cast brimming with polite suspicion.
But the jewel in this blood-spattered crown? The indomitable Anjelica Huston.
The story unfolds on the picturesque Cornish coast, where an ill-fated house party at the seaside estate of Lady Tressilian (played with imperious grandeur by Huston) descends into murder and mayhem. The guest list reads like a Christie greatest hits album—a handsome but troubled ex-tennis star, his brittle first wife, his calculating second wife, and an assortment of acquaintances, all simmering with barely concealed
BY MITCH HURST
CULINARY ICON
Nancy Brussat, founder of Convito Italiano in Wilmette, brought fine Italian food to the North Shore more than four decades ago. She died in January at the age of 84.
Growing up in Janesville, Wisconsin, Nancy Brussat could have never imagined the dazzling life that was waiting for her—one that saw her living in London, falling in love with European cuisine, and then bringing all that culinary knowledge to the North Shore.
And yet, that’s just where this story begins.
Nancy, who passed away earlier this year at age 84, not only opened Wilmette’s first gourmet food shop in 1980 but she planted the seeds for what became a culinary emplre. Her death marks the passing of a true legend who delighted food connoisseurs with her handpicked ingredients and authentic Italian and French recipes.
“She wanted to educate people here about Italian food. She had traveled to Italy over 20 times, and ended up going to each region,” says Candace Barocci Warner, who joined her mother’s beloved Convito Italiano in 1996 as general manager and became partner in 2007. “She had wine, fresh pasta, prepared foods, and imported groceries, and a small area to learn about Italian food, wine, and culture.”
The daughter of Ray Brussat, a Janesville educator, and Thelma Evans Brussat, a librarian and seamstress, Nancy’s roots were quintessentially Midwestern. A middle child of three sisters, she was a high school beauty queen who detassled corn in summers—an excellent student and unapologetic flirt with boys at the local soda shop.
But as Warner explains, her mother was also a born entrepreneur.
“She was somebody who even in college was president of the sorority,” Warner says. “She was one of those people who was a leader from the
start and just always wanted to be busy and take charge.”
Nancy met husband, Bob Barocci, while earning her B.A. at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. They married and began raising a family, including Warner and her brother, Rob. Then, in 1976, something happened that would unknowingly change Nancy’s life forever. Her husband’s job at Leo Burnett Advertising would take the family to London, opening the door to exciting new culinary worlds and ultimately, a new career.
Less than a year after returning to the
One of the most remarkable things about Nancy’s success is that she had no formal culinary training. What she did have was a vision.
in Chicago to do it,” says Warner. “There were just one or two authentic Italian restaurants in Chicago way back then in 1980.”
tomato was like, Nancy delighted readers with her recipes, recommendations, and observations about the culinary life in Italy.
Another innovation Nancy and her Convito brand leaned into was prepared meals. Few, if any, restaurants were offering quality prepared food that families could take home and enjoy.
After opening Convito, she began to surround herself with talented chefs and mentors who provided a gastronomic education so uniquely practical that only a few years later, she
U.S., Nancy opened Convito Italiano, an Italian fine foods market that carried all the delicacies she fell in love with in Europe. From Convito Italiano (which is still in operation today) came the Convito Café & Market, a gourmet market and fine dining restaurant.
“She worked with local distibutors to advocate for importers to get products in the Midwest, and she was educating people about Italian cuisine and culture and was one of the very first
began to expand the Convito brand beyond the North Shore.
In 1986, she opened a second location in Chicago’s Gold Coast, followed by a third in the historic Merchandise Mart. And in 1991, Nancy opened Bêtise, a Riviera-style bistro dedicated to the memory of her late friend and celebrated restaurateur Leslee Reis.
Not satisfied with just running her expanding businesses, she joined Les Dames d’Escoffier—a high-profile international women’s food and wine association. She also launched a newsletter, Capitolo, which means “chapter” in Italian. When most people didn’t know what pesto was or what a sun-dried
She perfected it, and when the pandemic hit Convito didn’t skip a beat as other restaurants struggled to adapt.
Warner explains that as she began to take on more responsibility for the day-to-day operations, her mother had even more time to spend on her passion for writing, eventually publishing the blog series, “My Italian Journeys,” which documents her travels to every region of Italy from 1979 to 1986. Nancy also collaborated with her son, Rob, a New York photographer, to pen 60 chapters over the course of 12 years. In doing so, Warner and her family say she “accidentally” wrote her autobiography.
The legacy of that Midwestern girl from Janesville, Wisconsin, continues to endure with Warner at the helm.
“I am proud to carry on what my mom started all those decades ago,” she says. “To be able to take her vision from where she started to where she ended up is incredible. She never backed down, even when things were hard, and I won’t either.”
These life lessons will be remembered and honored for generations to come. In a recent obituary, her family says they will “celebrate her memory by perpetuating the tradition of her much-loved Cousins Reunion, distinguished by consistently spectacular food, abundant drink, and perpetual laughter.”
A memorial for Nancy Brussat will be held at 1 p.m. on March 28 at The Woman's Club of Evanston, 1702 Chicago Avenue, in Evanston.
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
GO GREEN
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BY WILLIAM MONROE THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
A PINT OF SORROW, A CUP OF GRACE
Oh, life is a storm and a merciless gale, A tale that is told with a sorrowful wail. A dance on the brink, a stumble, a fall, A feast laid before us, yet famine for all.
The laughter is hollow, the revelry brief, For joy is a thief soon unmasked as grief. The poet grows weary, the drinker drinks deep, Both chasing a solace that never will keep.
The love that we trusted, the gold that we sought, All dust in the wind or a prize dearly bought.
The friends that we cherish, the hands that we hold, Fade into the night, grow distant and cold.
But lo! What is this? A light through the mist, A hand that still beckons, a love that persists. The world may be fleeting, its joys may decay, But Heaven stands firm at the end of the way.
For promises shimmer in whispers divine, A mercy unyielding, a hope that is mine.
A Shepherd who walks where the lost ones have strayed, A King who still calls when the debts go unpaid.
Oh, death is a door, not a pit nor a chain, For Christ has stepped through it and conquered its reign. The grave has been emptied, the curse torn apart, The Maker of all now makes whole every heart.
So bring me my sorrows, my wounds and my strife, For beauty is wrought from the wreckage of life. And when all is done, when my last breath is passed, I'll drink of His joy—forever to last.
MUSIC MATTERS
MAY 17, 2025 • 5:00 PM
Cocktails | Auction | Dinner | Live Music
SUPPORT MUSIC EDUCATION
All proceeds benefit Ravinia and its Reach Teach Play programs, which directly serve over 20,000 students annually in Lake and Cook Counties.
RUSSIAN VEGETABLE PIE WITH WHOLE WHEAT & NUT FLOUR CRUST
BY MONICA KASS ROGERS FOOD EDITOR THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Anna Thomas’ The Vegetarian Epicure-Books One and Two were the first cookbooks I ever owned. Originally published in the early ‘70s, I bought them more than a decade later when I was out of college and eager to cook vegetables in a fresh and delicious way. Her Russian Vegetable Pie, filled with cabbage, onion, and mushrooms over a slather of cream cheese, was one of my first baking triumphs. I’ve made it many times since. But I altered the recipe to replace the butter with olive oil in the filling, switched to Neufchâtel instead of cream cheese, added a swirl of Dijon mustard at the base, and tucked the filling into a healthier whole wheat and nut flour crust.
I believe Thomas would approve. In her 1996 cookbook, The New Vegetarian Epicure, Thomas wrote that her earlier books, which would sell more than a million copies, were written when vegetarianism was a popular idea, but vegetarian food was “pretty awful.” That first Vegetarian Epicure and its sequel captured the geist of a certain time. As Thomas wrote it was “a guiltfree era when butter and cream were used without a care and cheese ruled. Today, of course, our attitudes are different … we are all finding healthier ways to eat and enjoy lighter food.”
To make the pie, you’ll need a nice, small head of savoy cabbage, some cremini mushrooms, a good-sized yellow onion, and some fresh snipped French tarragon, basil, and dill. I like the texture and sturdiness of a whole wheat pastry flour crust (with almond flour added for a little extra nuttiness,) but you can make it gluten-free by substituting gluten-free flour for the whole wheat flour and omitting the mustard. If you need the pie to be dairy-free, substitute coconut oil (chilled until solid) for the butter in the crust and use vegan cream cheese-style spread instead of Neufchâtel in both the crust and to spread in the bottom of the pie.
MAKES 1, DEEP-DISH 9-INCH PIE
INGREDIENTS
FOR THE PIE CRUST
• 1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
• ½ cup almond flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces Neufchâtel cheese (you’ll use the other half of an 8-ounce package in the pie filling)
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) ice-cold butter, cut into pieces
FOR THE FILLING
• 4 large eggs, hard-boiled
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 large yellow onion, peel discarded, finely chopped to make 1 cup
• 1 small head of savoy cabbage, roughly shredded (after cooking with the onion, you should have 4 ½ cups) OR small head of regular cabbage
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
• Small sprig fresh French tarragon, leaves snipped to make 2 tablespoons
• Small sprig fresh basil, leaves snipped to make 2 tablespoons
• Small sprig fresh dill, snipped to make 2 tablespoons
• ½ lb. cremini mushrooms, washed and sliced
• 4 ounces softened Neufchâtel cheese
• 2 tablespoons good quality Dijon mustard (Maille is very nice)
METHOD
MAKE PIE CRUSTS In a large wide bowl, combine flours with salt. Cut in butter and Neufchâtel cheese, using fingertips to lightly break butter and cheese into the flour until it resembles wet sand. Add ¼ cup of water (plus small amounts more as needed) mix until dough gathers up into a ball. Divide dough in half. Roll ½ of dough into a large circle and fit into 9-inch pie dish, leaving excess dough overhanging rim of dish. Chill. Wrap second half of dough and chill.
MAKE FILLING Place 4 eggs in their shells in pan of water. Boil for 6 minutes. Remove pan from heat to cool. Once cool, peel eggs. In a large sauté pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and chopped onion. Cook until onion is softened and translucent. While onion cooks, discard core from cabbage head. Cut head in half and roughly shred. Add ½ of the shredded cabbage to softened onion in sauté pan with ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring until cabbage has cooked down and is tender. Remove to a bowl and set aside. Add another 1 tablespoon of oil to pan with remaining half of the cabbage and again cook, stirring until cooked down and tender. Remove to the bowl with the first portion of cooked cabbage and onion. Stir in snipped tarragon and basil. Add remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to sauté pan with sliced mushrooms. Add remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Stir, cooking until mushrooms are cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove dough-lined pie plate and the other half of the pie dough from fridge. Spread 4 ounces Neufchâtel cheese on the bottom of the pie crust. Spread 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard over the cheese. Place half of the cabbage/onion/herb mixture into the pie. Slice eggs and arrange over the cabbage. Sprinkle with the fresh snipped dill. Layer remaining cabbage/onion/herb mixture over this. Top with mushrooms, slightly mounding at the center. Roll out remaining pie crust. Place over pie, tucking and rolling top crust over the bottom crust around the edge. Flute and press edge to seal. Cut a few knife slits in top of pie to vent steam. Bake pie in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking for an additional 20 to 25 minutes until pie crust is golden brown. Remove from oven. Slice and serve.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONICA KASS ROGERS
MASS APPEAL
Keshet—an organization that enhances independence and supports inclusion for people with disabilities—fetes four of the nonprofit’s longtime advocates, including Highland Park native and commercial real estate maven Bill Mass.
BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY ROBERT RISKO
Bill Mass was 12 years old, no taller than a mid-sized step ladder, when Nathan’s (now Michael’s Grill & Salad Bar) in Highland Park hired him to clean table tops.
“I worked as a rag boy,” says a smiling Mass, now 57 years old and a 5-foot-9 father of four and grandfather of one, Hallie, born three weeks ago.
The restaurant on 2nd Street was where he first met Abbie C. Hoffman, whose family owned what was then known as Michael’s Chicago Style Red Hots.
Flash forward decades later, circa 2000. Mass attends a golf outing/benefit, after which a woman is recognized for her tireless work for people with disabilities and special needs.
The woman’s name is Abbie Weisberg, nee Hoffman.
“It touched me, hearing all about her commitment and dedication, all while battling cancer,” says Mass, who has more than 35 years of experience in the field of commercial real estate. “I contacted her soon after the event to congratulate her and tell her how much I admired her work. Abbie then told me, ‘We sure could use your help at Keshet.’”
Keshet, Hebrew for “rainbow,” provides support, purpose, and joy to people of all abilities, with a mission to do whatever necessary to allow individuals with disabilities to achieve their potential in a community of belonging. Founded in 1982 by a group of Chicago-area parents, today the one-of-a-kind, North Shore-based organization brings classroom experiences, camps, sports, and social and vocational opportunities to more than 600 people with disabilities and special needs.
Mass, who grew up in a Highland Park household as a caring, attentive brother of a boy (Jimmy, now 53) with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offered his help
and professional expertise to Weisberg—Keshet’s eventual executive director—right then and there.
On the after noon of March 9, at Ateres Ayala in Skokie, Kes het held its 33rd annual Rainbow Banquet. Among the honorees for their significant contribu tions to Keshet at the “Dream Big”-themed event were Lynda and Scott Canel, Karen Frankenthal, and … Bill Mass.
Sadly, Weis berg, Keshet’s ED
ciety,” Mass says. “She brought like-minded, humble, passionate people together to work toward a common goal, just like (Keshet President/ CEO) Jennifer Phillips, (Keshet Board Chair) Michelle Friedman and so many others are doing today. ‘No’ is never an answer at Keshet.
“We’re now near a point,” he continues, “where Keshet will become more ingrained than ever in the Keshet, behind Mass’s helmsmanship on land, acquired the mixed-use space (799 Central Avenue in Highland Park) formerly occupied by the fitness club Equinox in late 2022. Sometime in 2026
and likely the Park District of Highland Park. “We’re excited about what the campus will mean to both Keshet and the community.”
Mass, principal at Mass Realty in Arlington Heights since he launched it in 2005, adores the Highland Park community. That’s why the former Buffalo Grove and Long Grove resident returned to his hometown six months ago with his wife, Buffalo Grove native Audrey; his mother, also named Audrey, lives in Highland Park.
Mass’s late father, Arnie, thought Bill was too small to play football at Highland Park High School (HPHS), forcing the youngster to search for another sport. He found swimming and competed as a sprint freestyler for the Giants in his sophomore year. A serious back injury—sustained during a pick-up football game with friends—meant he’d have to churn as a senior distance freestyler after an extensive rehabilitation.
“I was going to swim in college (at the University of Illinois) but changed my mind on the day I showed up at the pool,” says the 1985 HPHS graduate, who, instead of hitting the books and the water, chose to study hard and work often in Champaign—first as manager of Doc J’s hot dog stand and later as a bartender at KAMS.
John Conatser FOUNDER & PUBLISHER
Jennifer Sturgeon ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Gaven Conatser ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
@ TheNSWeekend @ TheNSWeekend
We’re now near a point where Keshet will become more ingrained than ever in the community
from 2005-2020 after serving the nonprofit as a teacher and its director of recreation, wasn’t there to stand and applaud vigorously for the former eager rag boy and Keshet’s invaluable go-to man for real estate needs.
She passed away in 2021 at the age of 57.
“Abbie did so much for Keshet, bringing countless participants into mainstream so-
the building will stand as Keshet’s new campus site, home to its primary programming, from art and dance offerings to a range of recreational activities.
“It backs up to Sunset Park and it’ll be part of the entryway to the city of Highland Park,” says Mass, adding the space will also house collaborations with Soul 2 Sole Dance,Inc., a high-quality dance school,
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Cheyanne Lencioni, Bill McLean, Felix McMillan, Allison Melone, William Monroe, Redding Worth
At age 21, his brother Jimmy Mass moved to Misericordia—a Chicago-based community of care that maximizes potential for persons with mild to profound developmental disabilities.
“Looking back at my childhood, I was fortunate, blessed even, to have grown up with Jimmy,” says Mass, a board member of Community Alternatives Unlimited, which helps individuals and families with disabilities discover the services and resources they need. “And I still feel that way to this day. Jimmy taught me a lot, taught my whole family a lot. We all embraced him and came together for him.”
