Make It Better: April Digital Edition

APRIL 2013

north shore—family, community and you

BODY ISSUE WITH CHICAGO BEARS KICKER ROBBIE GOULD

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Fitness Fashion North Shore Trainers Brain Health Jump For Joy Romantic Getaway

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Thank you to all the businesses who graciously donated their products and services to this cause.

AMC Theatres

Francesca's Collections

Sassoon

Auntie Anne’s Pretzels

Get Happy

See’s Candies

Aveda

J.Jill

Sephora

Caché

Lord & Taylor

Silver Corner

C.D. Peacock

lucy

Starbucks

The Claim Company

lululemon athletica

Stuart Weitzman

Corner Bakery Cafe

Memories Engraved

Subway

California Pizza Kitchen

Neiman Marcus

Sur La Table

CUSP

P.F. Chang's China Bistro

Technoworld

Di Pescara

Pierce Interiors

Tommy Bahama

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa

Red Mango

Tony & Bruno’s

S.A. Elite Sports Authority

True Religion Brand Jeans

Exclusive trip to New York City featuring a VIP Showroom Tour and a $3,000 shopping experience!

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contents VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5

APRIL 2013 PHOTO BY JON CANCELINO

features

29 38 40 46 48 65

The Body Beautiful

By Jaime Baum, Laura Hine, Marjie Killeen, Kelly Konrad and Susan B. Noyes North Shore Trainers Susan Cain on Parenting an Introvert

By Laura Hine A Romantic Getaway to the Golden Gate

By Julie Chernoff House Anatomy

By Tate Gunnerson

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38

40

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Perfectly Fit

By Evangeline Politis

on our cover Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould Photo by Nathaniel Perry

correction

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Photo <credit>

The correct website for Real Russian Vodka is premieredistillery.com.

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in every issue 14

58 74 family

44

76

Brain Health for Every Age

By Laura Hine with Jody Buck

Better Sex? Breathe Deep and Do Your Kegels

By Marjie Killeen

dining and entertainment home

54 58 62

78

Lighter, Brighter Interior Design

By Kristina Tober

80

Make Your Home Your Own

By Laura Tiebert

82

Daytripper: Naperville

By Kelly Konrad

84

Ward Eight: Speakeasy on Howard Street

By Julie Chernoff Salad Daze Part 3

By Julie Chernoff All Eyes on Chicago

By Kelly Konrad

72 74

5 No-Sweat Beauty Solutions

By Belinda Lichty Clarke Get Fitter, Faster with HIIT

By Christy Coughlin North Shore Fitness Deals

By Meghan Streit

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make a difference

88 96

16

contributors

17

you said it

20

new in the northern suburbs

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make it better column

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recommended events

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events listing

82

theater guide

84

music by val

86

give time, give things, give support

98

closing thoughts

Carrying forward the best of magazine

MISSION STATEMENT The mission of Make It Better is to be the most-trusted, easiestto-use community resource and magazine that helps you make your life, and the lives of others, better.

Books that Thrill

By Kelly Konrad

a better you

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editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s letter

Better Makers and Their Impact Jump for Joy at Evanston Dance Ensemble

By Susan B. Noyes

Make It Better North Shore (ISSN No. 2151-0431) is published 11 times per year by Make It Better LLC, 1150 Wilmette Ave., Suite J, Wilmette, IL 60091-2642. Phone: 847.256.4642.

Copyright 2013 by Make It Better LLC. All rights reserved.

Application to Mail at Periodicals Rates is pending at Wilmette, IL and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Make It Better, 1150 Wilmette Ave, Suite J, Wilmette, IL 60091-2642. Make It Better is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Copyright 2013 by Make It Better LLC. All rights reserved.

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e di tor s l et t e r

celebrating the

Body by laur a hine

While we often celebrate the mind and its accomplishments at Make It Better, sometimes you just have to get physical. And April is our month.

We were inspired by ESPN The Magazine’s “Body Issue”—look it up if you aren’t familiar with their gorgeous, naked (but tasteful) athletes. Our PG interpretation with local trainers is on pages 38 and 39. We also love stories of physical transformation and courage, and our feature is full of these remarkable individuals beginning on page 29. And if they make you want to move a little more, the fashion on page 65 and beauty on page 70 is for you. Because why not look fabulous while you’re working to get more fit?

Exercise isn’t just good for the soul, it’s good for sex, too. Marjie Killeen looks at the exercise we should all be doing—but aren’t— on page 76. And since we’re all busy, Christy Coughlin is all about how to work out smarter and faster in less time. Check out page 72 and find out what HIIT means.

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But we can’t be all sweat and no fun. Julie Chernoff gives us both salads and cocktails—the ideal combination of food stuffs, if you ask me—on pages 78 and 80. She also has tips for a long weekend in San Francisco— lots of hills so you can work off lives made all that good food she recombetter mends. Closer to home, Kelly 82,582 Konrad has events from music $$ raised to museums to kick off spring, for nfps and a daytripper plan for Na$1,811,122 perville—it’s where to go in between kids’ sporting events in the western ‘burbs.

Finally, the cutest of our body stories has to be our Local Treasure on page 96. Adorable ballerinas and the caring teachers who help them dance with their peers. Give us an awwww on that one!

Here’s to a toned, flexible and healthy month. Enjoy!

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1150 Wilmette Ave., Suite J, Wilmette, IL 60091, 847-256-4642

Founder & Publisher Susan B. Noyes

Editor in Chief Laura Hine

Senior Editor Kelly Konrad

Art Director Jessica DeJong Designer Sarah Philippart

Dining Editor Julie Chernoff

Fashion Editor Evangeline Politis

Finance Editor Meghan Streit

Fitness Editor Christy Coughlin

Home Editor Tate Gunnerson Make a Difference Editor Laura Tiebert

Senior Living Editor Stuart Greenblatt Sex & the Suburbs Editor Marjie Killeen

Contributing Writers Jamie Baum Jody Buck Belinda Lichty Clark Val Haller Lisa Zimbler

Lead Photographer Nathaniel Perry

Contributing photographer Tate Gunnerson

Web Editor Lindsay Roseman

Proofreader Julie Chernoff Creative Director Cheryl Berman

CEO Kimberly Carroll

Co-Founder & Vice President of Marketing Mindy Fauntleroy

Chief Financial Officer Sandy Tsuchida

Ad Sales Director Michelle Weiss

Director of Community

Development Sandra A. Miller

Senior Account Executives Patti Augustyn Megan Holbrook Julie Carter

Account Executive Jenny Newman

Make It Better Foundation Sharon Krone Got feedback? E-mail susan@makeitbetter.net To advertise: Contact michelle@makeitbetter.net

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CON T R I BU TOR S

If you’re talking bodies on the North Shore, you’re also talking exercise. Our readers and writers are committed to fitness (kinda, most of the time, when we can). Here are some of our contributors’ favorite ways to stay fit.

1 | JAIME BAUM, Glencoe Yoga is Jaime’s go-to exercise.

The music combined with choreographed poses, stretching, strengthening and meditative elements result in a more contented wife, mom and writer!

2 | JULIE CHERNOFF, Evanston Julie has become a Zumba enthusiast. Shhhh... don’t tell.

3 | CHRISTY COUGHLIN, Wilmette Christy loves running intervals on the track, especially with a fast friend pushing the pace for each quarter mile.

4 | MARJIE KILLEEN, Wilmette Marjie’s favorite way to exercise is playing tennis. The challenge of chasing down the ball and staying in the point are so engaging and fun, it doesn’t seem like “work” at all.

5 | KELLY KONRAD, Glenview Kelly loves to run—just not very fast. Can you still call it running when you are passed by a speedwalker?

6 | SUSAN B. NOYES, Wilmette Susan is committed to blocking out time for exercise on her calendar—the simple act of putting it there dramatically improves the chances it will get done.

7 | SARAH PHILIPPART, Chicago Sarah loves a good yoga class — afterwards she feels balanced, both physically and mentally.

8 | LINDSAY ROSEMAN, Glenview Lindsay’s a new fan of balletinspired barre classes. Just because she can’t dance doesn’t mean she can’t feel long and lean like a ballet dancer.

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you said it

We love to hear from you— so please send us your stories, comments, opinions, ideas, reviews and resources!

In a 2012 issue of your magazine, you

interviewed several families who found the perfect living environment for their elderly parents. Every example was the same: match the parent’s needs to the nursing home, assisted living or retirement community. Not one family you interviewed had a parent living with them, and yet we live in an age where 30 million people care for loved ones in their homes.

Your magazine missed an opportunity by not giving families with ailing parents any other solution than fitting the parent to the proper care facility.

For many families, such a facility is not a financially realistic option—or even a desirable one.

Sincerely,

Deborah Riley Editor’s Response:

That particular article detailed various housing options, and also included information on North Shore Senior Center’s initiative North Shore Village, which supports seniors who are aging in their home or living with family. We love the suggestion of exploring multigenerational living.

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ON L I N E

OUR BETTER HALF IS ONLINE

what’s hot on makeitbetter.net  BOOKS

OUTINGS & TRAVEL

A Conversation with GQ Editor Michael Hainey

Plan Your Girls’ Getaway Weekend

DINING

Teens and Prescription Drug Abuse: A Growing Problem

Dairy-Free Broccoli Cream Soup

HEALTH & WELLNESS

FASHION & BEAUTY

7 Sins of Beauty

make it better on the iPad

If you have an iPad, you’ll want to download our (free!) app, which delivers each month’s magazine straight to your tablet.

Just a few tips:  Download it where you have a WiFi signal, and it’ll load quickly, but expect it to take a minute or two to get all the data.  If you’re a fan of the app, we’d love a positive review!  Take a quick look at the navigation instructions if you’re new to viewing magazines on the iPad. Then have fun exploring all the extra goodies.

the better letter

We update content on makeitbetter.net daily, so to find out what’s going on around the site, sign up for our weekly Better Letter emails on our homepage.

Sunday: Organize for the week ahead with:  food  home ideas  family  inspiration and  fitness local treasures  community Wednesday: Get ready for the weekend! You’ll find the latest in: shopping quick and easy ways beauty to make restaurants a difference entertainment Sign up today at  MAKEITBETTER.NET/BETTER-LETTER

Download the free iPad app today  MAKEITBETTER.NET/IPAD

contribute to make it better

ENTER TO WIN!

Download our April iPad edition for a chance to win a gift basket of beauty goodies from Teddie Kossof ($150 value in samples plus $50 SalonSpa credit)

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VIDEO CONTEST

Is your dad the best around?

Tell us why in our Father’s Day Video Contest!

Submit a short video explaining why your dad is #1 to  SUSAN@MAKEITBETTER.NET

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FR E SH

B Y J U L I E C H E R N O F F A N D L I N D S AY R O S E M A N

SUPERSIZE MY COOKIE FRIES! Highland Park’s Jill Balick and Susie Schuster have hit on a genius idea. Cookie Fries are tender shortbread that’s crinkle-cut and fry reminiscent. They’re available in five flavors, and packaged in classic “to go” cartons.

Dipping sauces like salted caramel, marshmallow and raspberry come on the side.

Great for party favors and a real conversation starter. The best part? They’re delicious. Can I get fries with that? THE COOKIE JOINT: 847461-3068, thecookiejoint.com —JC

HALLELUJAH! PASS THE WINE! Diana Hamann is a wine evangelist; step into her new Evanston storefront, The Wine Goddess, and she will make you BELIEVE in the power of good wine to elevate any meal or occasion.

She stocks about 200 wines from around the world, with a focus on small producers.

Give her the parameters— price, varietal, a special dish— and she will find you the perfect wine, every time. And she’s all about education, with helpful merchant profile cards for each wine, recipes for pairing and intriguing wine classes held on Thursday nights. THE WINE GODDESS: 702 Main St., Evanston, 847-475-9463, winegoddess.com

PRETTY UP YOUR PUP Don’t have time to run your pooch over to the groomer? Certified dog groomer Susan Gottlieb will come to you with her new mobile dog grooming business, Cleanhound Grooming. This grooming station on wheels includes hydro-massage baths, shampoo and conditioning treatments, blow outs, pedicures and de-shed treatments—and she tops it off with a cute bow or bandana. “I wanted to provide a calm grooming experience for the dog and amazing customer service for the owner,” Gottlieb says. CLEANHOUND MOBILE GROOMING SPA: 847-999-8318, cleanhoundgrooming.com —LR

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GOLF PRACTICE, THE COOKIE JOINT, THE WINE GODDESS AND CLEANHOUND MOBILE GROOMING SPA

TEE OFF IN HIGHLAND PARK Master your swing at The Golf Practice, Highland Park’s new stateof-the-art training facility. PGA veteran Peter Donahue opened this 7000-sq. ft. golf academy, which offers camps, leagues and lessons for golfers of all ages and abilities. “From driving to putting and every stroke in between, we work one-on-one to develop individual programs,” Donahue says. Their cutting-edge feedback methods strengthen neuromuscular registration and accelerate skill development. THE GOLF PRACTICE: 1546 Old Deerfield Rd., Highland Park, 847-850-0956, thegolfpractice.com —LR

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Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Mark Kirk and Senator Joe Manchin

hurt bodies a beautiful blessing by susan b . noye s The human body is one of nature’s greatest masterpieces—exquisitely complex, beautifully composed. A handsome man or woman is a joy to behold. But beauty or a perfectly healthy body does not ensure happiness or a good life. It is often because a person struggles with a great physical challenge that they become better, happier people.

For example, Senator Mark Kirk suffered a massive stroke in January 2012.

He pushed hard through rehabilitation in order to return to work less than a year later. In a Washington Post editorial, Kirk describes himself pre-stroke as “a glasshalf-empty kind of guy, a believer in Murphy’s Law.” He then explains how the stroke made him a better man and senator.

“I’m an optimist now, grateful for every blessing. Bad things happen, but life is still waiting for you to make the most of it. I want my life to count for something more than the honors I once craved. I believe it will.

“My faith is stronger. My humility is deeper. I know I depend on family and friends more than I ever realized. I know, too, that the things that divide us in politics are infinitesimal compared with the dignity of our common humanity.”

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My own broken body story is less inspiring, but should ring true with most paddle players. I ruptured my right Achilles tendon, running to the net after serving in a paddle tennis match.

Post surgery, I was in bed with my foot above my heart for weeks. I couldn’t bear weight or drive for months beyond that. Instead of presiding (dictating) over family and home, I was sidelined.

To my surprise, this became a blessing. My family—particularly my husband—stepped up. My children came to me with compassion, eager to share an anecdote about their day. I listened better too. What a contrast to the norm where I pressed for information, and they grunted as little as possible in return! I let friends help. I read more.

I became a better, more appreciative mother, wife and friend.

Breast cancer survivor Erica Jones credits her illness for teaching her what really matters in life. When talking about the recent loss of some heirloom jewelry she declared, “It’s just stuff, material stuff. Life is so much more important!”

The illness and death of their best friend and brother-in-law, Les Turner, from ALS (Lou Gehrig disease) inspired Bonny and Harvey Geffen to help future ALS patients and families. Their extraordinary efforts grew the Les Turner Foundation, which provides comprehensive support to patients, and funds two research laboratories at Northwestern University. (For more on their efforts, go to makeitbetter.net/make-a-difference.)

Time and again at Make It Better, we meet people who turn physical tragedy into an inspiring, personal triumph or mission to help others. If you know of similar stories, please share them with us.

Like Senator Kirk, we too recognize and celebrate the dignity of our common humanity. And we hope that our work helps support those needing it most, too.

Photo courtesy of senator mark kirk’s office

m a k e i t bet t e r

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E V E N TS

R E C O M M E N D E D

B Y K E L LY K O N R A D

And parents—no animal sales are allowed, promising an event you can take the kids to without risk of an extra passenger on the way home.

Dr. John April 17 | SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston | evanstonspace.com Grammy winner Dr. John is on board for two shows in one night—a musician with a funky blues soul who will have you up out of your seat.

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David Sanborn Trio April 18 | North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie | northshorecenter.org Famed saxophonist David Sanborn brings his tour to the North Shore—a musician that has spanned just about every musical genre; this is a not-to-miss concert.

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editor’s pick Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques and Garden Fair April 19 – 21 | 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe | chicagobotanic.org Looking for a way to crack that “April showers” mood and welcome spring Chicago style? Here it is—the Antiques and Garden Fair is one of CBG’s signature events and promises to inspire with eclectic and whimsical design accessories amid the most beautiful surroundings on the North Shore. Don’t miss the special Preview Event on April 18.

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Ethel & Todd Rundgren: Tell Me Something Good April 2 | Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Dr., Evanston | pickstaiger.org This is a show for those in the know— Todd Rundgren’s rock icon status in combination with the funky sounds of string virtuoso Ethel make for a concert you’ll be telling your friends about for the rest of the year.

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Sleep Under the Skyscrapers April 12 | Lincoln Park Zoo, N. Lake Shore Dr. at Fullerton Pkwy., Chicago | lpzoo.org

APRIL 2013

Something for every kid’s bucket list—an overnight at the zoo. Get up close and personal with the animals when everyone else goes home! (Psst … if tickets are sold out for this event, check their website for upcoming dates.)

ReptileFest 13 April 13 – 14 | UIC, 901 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago | chicagoherp.org The nation’s largest party for reptiles and the people that love them—see and touch animals from around the world and learn more about these fascinating creatures.

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 Bobby McFerrin April 20 | Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago | cso.org Grammy-winner Bobby McFerrin brings his tremendous vocal talent to the stage at the CSO with a one-night performance that will have you wondering, “How DOES he do that?”

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LEFT PHOTO COURTESY OF CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, LOWER RIGHT PHOTO COURTESY OF CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

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The Rave Run 27 | Peggy Notebaert Museum, 2430 N. 27 April Cannon Dr., Chicago | theraverun.com/chicago Want to turn up the volume on your outdoor workout? Join friends and family for a glow light-lit, heart-thumping race through Lincoln Park.

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Arbor Day 10K Run 21 April 21 | Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle | mortonarb.org Challenge yourself with a spring run in a beautiful setting—the budding trees of Morton Arboretum.

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Northbrook Earth and Arbor Day Celebration April 21 | Village Green, Shermer and Meadow Rds., Northbrook | northbrook.il.us Join your North Shore neighbors for a oneday celebration and a chance to learn more about cleaning up the environment, conserving energy and more. Entertainment, child-friendly fun and seedling giveaways are all part of the fun.

Lake Geneva Women’s Weekend April 26 – 28 | Lake Geneva, WI | lakegenevawomensweekend.com Just for you and your girlfriends—enjoy a spring getaway that’s not too far from home, with shopping, a spa night, pub crawl, ziplining and workshops.

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TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RAVE RUN, MIDDLE PHOTO COURTESY OF VINTAGE GARAGE CHICAGO

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Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair April 26 – 29 | Merchandise Mart, Chicago | merchandisemartantiques.com A spectacular opportunity to see the finest antiques from an internationally curated group of dealers. You can support the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago by attending their preview party on April 25.

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Northshore Baconfest 27 April 27 | Wagner Farm, 1510 Wagner Rd., Glenview | glenviewparks.org The first ever baconfest for Glenview’s Wagner Farm and a fundraiser for the Farm and its programming. Enjoy sample-sized tastes of a wide variety of bacon and bacon-flavored dishes from local restaurants, along with live music and a cash bar.

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Skokie’s Spring Greening April 29 | Niles North High School, 9800 N. Lawler, Skokie skokiespringgreening.org If you’ve been cleaning house this month, this is the place you can make a one-stop drop of recyclables, learn how to go green, enjoy live entertainment and take part in workshops that will make you a better friend of the environment.

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 Vintage Garage Chicago 21 April 21 | 5051 N. Broadway Ave., Chicago | vintagegaragechicago.com It’s the season opener for this fantastic flea market held monthly though October.

They’re kicking off the year with a vintage bike ride—and anyone working the vintage look that day gets free admission.

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e v e n ts l ist i ng

april highlights B y K e l ly K o n r a d

ongoing Courage: The Vision to End Segregation and the Guts to Fight For It Closes April 21 Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, 9603 Woods Dr., Skokie | ilholocaustmuseum.org Creatures of Light: Nature’s Bioluminescence Ongoing Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | fieldmuseum.org Dinosaurs Alive Ongoing Brookfield Zoo, 1st Avenue and 31st St., Brookfield | brookfieldzoo.org Fashion and the Field Museum: Maria Pinto Ongoing Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | fieldmuseum.org Picasso and Chicago Ongoing Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago | artic.edu Scenes from the Stone Age: The Cave Paintings of Lascaux Ongoing Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | fieldmuseum.org Shedd Aquarium: Jellies Ongoing 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago sheddaquarium.org Welcome to the Universe Ongoing Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | adlerplanetarium.org

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The Wizard of Oz Closes April 15 Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview | kohlchildrensmuseum.org

Grayslake Antique Market April 13 & 14 Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Rd., Grayslake | zurkopromotions.com

week of april 1–7

week of april 15–21

Make It Better’s Sex and the Suburbs April 4 Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central Ave., Wilmette | wilmettetheatre.com Evanston Farmers’ and Artisan Market April 6 (also April 13, 20 and 27) Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd., Evanston | evanstonenvironment.org Monthly Photo Walk April 6 Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe | chicagobotanic.org Jimmy Vaughan and the Tilt-a-Whirl Band April 7 SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston evanstonspace.com

week of april 8–14

Aaron Neville April 16 North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie northshorecenter.org

The Second City: Laughing Matters April 19 Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan | geneseetheatre.com Be the Groove April 20 Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights metropolisarts.com Bird Walk April 20 Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle | mortonarb.org

week of april 22–30

Dozin’ with the Dinos April 12 The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | fieldmuseum.org

Randolph Street Market April 27 & 28 1340 W. Washington St., Chicago randolphstreetmarket.com

Forest Fitness April 13 Lyons Woods, Waukegan | lcfpd.org

Earth Day Walk April 27 Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe | chicagobotanic.org

Gardening Expert Melinda Myers at Pasquesi Home & Gardens April 13 975 North Shore Dr., Lake Bluff pasquesi.com

Ars Viva Symphony April 28 North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie northshorecenter.org

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sponsored listings

North Suburban Prom Fashion Show April 7, 1:30 p.m.

North Suburban YMCA, 2705 Techny Rd, Northbrook | 847-272-7250 nsymca.org Come enjoy men’s and women’s fashions for the upcoming prom season. Event features models from local area high schools with proceeds benefiting the NSYMCA Strong Kids Financial Assistance Program. Tickets: $10 in advance, $15 at the door

Music Institute of Chicago presents pianist Sergei Babayan April 13 & 14, 3:00 p.m.

Nichols Concert Hall | 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston | 847-905-1500 musicinst.org Internationally renowned pianist Sergei Babayan performs Bach’s Goldberg Variations in a joint celebration of Nichols Concert Hall’s 10th anniversary, the 40th anniversary of the Bach Week Festival and the 150th anniversary of the city of Evanston.

Midwest Daffodil Society Show April 27, noon – 4:30 p.m.

April 28, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe | chicagobotanic.org The American Daffodil Society’s national show features more than a thousand daffodils on display that will be judged by the society.

The show includes cut blooms, photography competitions and floral designs inspired by the display gardens at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Daffodil growers of all skill levels are invited to participate.

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::beautiful

BODY

WITHOUT IT, YOU DON’T EXIST. For that miraculous fact alone, we should love our bodies and be thankful for every bump, curve and bruise. The individuals featured in these next few pages are all about the body—in all its glorious imperfections.

When we heard their stories, we were inspired by their dedication to improving physical health and strength. They repair the damaged parts. Find new ways to challenge individuals—no matter what their sport or ability. Offer peace and Namaste to those

who are recovering. Cheer women athletes to greater glory, and take ownership of their own bodies’ destinies.

You should do the same. Give yourself a fist bump for getting yourself to the gym or walking the dog or eating a healthy, gorgeous salad. You might not climb a mountain tomorrow—but then again, everyone’s mountain is different. Celebrate the challenges you have overcome and the good health and vitality that lets you move forward each and every day.

By Jaime Baum, Laura Hine, Marjie Killeen, Kelly Konrad and Susan B. Noyes

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::sport+science

Rick Silva and Al Owens Kinetic Performance Center

MAYBE THE PROBLEM WITH

golf game isn’t your golf game.

Kinetic Performance Center’s Rick Silva and Al Owens have made it their mission to help adults and children take sports to the next level through a marriage of science and training.

“Giving a golf lesson may be the last thing we actually do,” says Silva, the company’s founder and president. Silva started the company in 2009, and reconnected with longtime friend, Al Owens, a PGA pro who had been focusing on an aspect not often considered as part of golf training—the science of kinesiology.

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Rick Silva and Robbie Gould

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“It’s about building physical literacy and self confidence,” says Silva.

Kinesiology is a big word—but it can make a big difference in how well you play. Taking the science behind your body and how it moves, then applying it to sports may not seem that unusual, but it’s not common practice.

What does it look like? Not your typical sports experience.

Owens and his staff have been working with the Glenview Park District, offering classes and summer camp experiences for kids. Come to a session and you may see junior golfers planking and practicing foot progressions instead of putting.

“It’s not about golf,” says Silva. “It’s about coordination, confidence and independence.”

Playing into kids’ limited attention spans, the sessions include five-minute rotations with different activities, all designed to integrate planes of motion into their golf game.

“Feet are important and often ignored,” says Owens of the foot progression exercises. “It’s about getting the top of the foot to be more dynamic and loose.”

For their adult clients, Silva says, “They’re looking to golf as their sanctuary. It’s the only sport that the novice has the possibility to meet their hero on a parallel. My dad can’t step in to the batter’s box at Wrigley, but he can go play Pebble Beach.”

A professional evaluation is like walking into a 3-D game simulation. After taking an in-depth medical history, clients are fit into a device that collects information on how your body responds to swinging a golf club.

Given that information, Owens and Silva can help adult golfers adjust their swing to what is best for their body, and not necessarily what is considered best practices for a traditional swing. And as part of that experience, Silva and Owens unravel a lot of previous training mistakes and even psychological factors that may be hindering a person’s performance.

Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould is a longtime friend and supporter of KPC and has adopted the kinesiology model to work on his own performance on the field, and on the course.

“I’m seeing tremendous results,” says Gould. “What I think Rick and Al and KPC do is pretty special. They look to improve your function for your everyday life. I’m becoming a more complete athlete.”

KPC is also extending their reach philanthropically, by teaming with Gould’s foundation, The Goulden Touch to support local social services initiatives. Silva and Gould are already hard at work on putting together the second annual celebrity golf outing scheduled for this summer.

—By Kelly Konrad

PHOTO <CREDIT> PHOTO BY NATHANIEL PERRY

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::transformation

BODY

PHOTO <CREDIT>

BY ERIC DYNOWSKI PHOTO

Lonnie Stonitsch Co-Chair and Programming Chair Family Action Network (FAN)

STANDING IN FRONT OF THOU-

of people every month to introduce best-selling authors and researchers at FANsponsored talks, Lonnie Stonitsch is one of the North Shore’s most visible people. And many have noticed that over the last 11 months, Stonitsch’s appearance has changed. She’s known for adding a flair of blue or pink to her hair, but since last May the more dramatic change has been her weight. Stonitsch has lost 72 pounds as of our interview, and she looks fabulous.

“I had no history of working out; no history of dieting,” says Stonitsch. She met trainer and co-owner of Redefined Fitness Eric Smoot after a FAN discussion on student athletes and injuries, and the two immediately connected.

“I walked in here almost 300 pounds... You think in your mind you might be ridiculed or people might make some judgment, but what happens is that they have respect for you. They’re supportive.”

Stonitsch started by walking 30 minutes a day and working with Smoot. “But then I decided that if I was going to do it, I was going to completely commit to it and not waste Eric’s time nor my money doing it half-assed, or coming here and then going home and pigging out,” she says.

She completely changed her diet—eliminating red meat, pork, fried foods; avoiding white flour and white sugar; and eating mostly whole unprocessed food—which wasn’t as hard as it sounds since her husband is a vegetarian. She committed to going to bed at a reasonable hour, and working out with Smoot twice a week, plus three or four other workouts on her own. And the weight came off.

“She’s one of the most dedicated people I’ve ever seen,” says Smoot. “At the end of the day, that’s what it takes. You have to be willing to sacrifice.”

As he says that, Stonitsch interrupts him to note that while she’s given up some things, she’s gained so much more. “I just feel better. I’m still really assertive, but I’m less aggressive. My productivity has gone up. I’m nicer, calmer. I can still get knocked back if something happens that’s distressing, but I feel I’m better modulated and I feel more confident,” she says.

When we talk about why she decided that now was the time, she mentions her husband and son first. She says, “I’m 53 and I have a young son, and you know you don’t see a lot of 80-year-old obese people walking around.” But SANDS

she also talks about the rest of her life, and adds that she felt that since everything else in her life was going well— marriage, professional and personal—now might be the time to tackle a hard change. “Four years ago I started seeing a wonderful therapist from the Family Institute,” she says. And credits the work she’s done with Dr. Michael Maslar as groundwork for the weight loss.

“It’s changed my life,” says Stonitsch. “I don’t want to be that person again. Feeling trapped and knowing what you need to do, but being unwilling or unable to find the faith in yourself to say it’s time. It’s not tomorrow. I wish at 43 or 33 I had done this.”

—By Laura Hine

Lonnie Stonitsch and Eric Smoot

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::ability

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ities to autism to amputated limbs, kids learn not just the physical aspects of karate, but also to be self-confident in all aspects of their lives.

“I ask them about what they can do,” he says. And the results? “It’s such a breakthrough in every other arena of their life. The transformation is just remarkable. Kids walk out of here with something more than just karate—they carry themselves like a confident human being.”

Current student athlete Michael McCarthy illustrates the change Kohn makes in kids’ lives. A double amputee, McCarthy went from being unable to walk to a member of the United States Disabled Karate Team, planning to compete in Paris in 2014.

“He has the heart of a lion,” says Kohn.

Ask Kohn about his biggest accomplishment, though, and he talks about a former student, diagnosed with spina bifida and unable to control his bowel and bladder. Through rigorous exercise and concentration, that child became able to control those functions—something healthy people take for granted, but key to a person’s dignity.

Given his diagnosis, “to have that function, in that world, is unheard of. So for him, and me, it was life changing.”

Kohn’s methods aren’t always warm and fuzzy—he readily admits that he has high behavioral expectations for his students. “This is a program where kids work, and it’s a tough-love kind of place,” he says of his dojo. But it’s that kind of structured environment that has earned karate the reputation as a good exercise for kids with cognitive issues like ADHD. “There’s definitely a method of working with kids with different cognitive delays,” he says. “I treat them like athletes, just like they were anyone else. Great teachers have to make adaptations and that’s what comes from 30 years of teaching.”

He’s also paying it forward in the community with the Karate Can-Do Foundation, a nonprofit that offers scholarships, covers the cost of local exhibitions and has developed internships at the dojo where experienced students can earn community service hours and work-study credits.

Looking around his dojo, one would be quick to assume Kohn has reached the apex of his career—banners, medals and awards cover the wall. But Kohn still reaches for more.

“We’re trying to get karate in the Olympics and Paralympics in 2020,” he says. “I know some of my athletes will be on the podium, and my dream is to see them walk out there.”

—By Kelly Konrad

PHOTO BY NATHANIEL PERRY

THE BODY CAN DO AMAZING things when you just believe. That’s the attitude at Glenview’s North Shore DoJo, where Sensei Jeff Kohn coaches kids and adults of all ages and abilities.

Kohn’s career spans four decades, all in Chicago’s northern suburbs, with students currently ranging from 3 to 76 years old. He’s seen hundreds of miracles in that time—kids who have always been told they can’t, discover they can.

A key part of the dojo’s curriculum is the Karate Can-Do program, designed specifically for kids with special needs.

“Our goal is for participants to be mainstreamed into the typical program, and a lot of kids have transitioned in,” Kohn says. With challenges ranging from learning disabil-

Jeff Kohn Karate Can-Do

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::brain

BODY

PHOTO COURTESY DR. RICHARD FESSLER PHOTO <CREDIT>

Dr. Richard Fessler Professor of Neurosurgery Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

NOT MANY SURGEONS ARE

on the front page of the Chicago Tribune with any regularity, but Dr. Richard Fessler is one of the few whose innovations and list of who’s who patients put him routinely in the spotlight.

He is a neurosurgeon whose skill allows for thought and expression in a brain that has suffered a burst blood vessel, and who can repair a spine and allow an injured patient to walk again. To do that, Fessler has pushed the envelope of technology in two major areas: minimally invasive surgery and stem cell research. While one area has achieved success after years of research and practice, the other still faces challenges.

“It’s tremendously expensive,” he says talking about stem cell research. “There are about 10,000 new spinal cord injuries in the U.S. each year. It’s not like breast cancer or prostate cancer where there are hundreds of thousands each year, but if we could make a paralyzed person walk, that’s the Holy Grail.” Fessler led the one and only study so far that injected cells grown from an embryonic stem cell line into the spines of paralyzed patients. After four patients had received the transplants, and all were doing well, Geron, the company that owns the stem cell line, chose to end the study and focus instead on cancer research.

“No one is walking, but we didn’t really expect that. The study was set up in the most conservative part of the spinal cord in case there was a problem,” Fessler says. The cells did live and each patient experienced limited renewed sensation, but because stem cell research is controversial and expensive, Fessler is not optimistic that new trials will begin anytime soon.

However, on the subject of minimally invasive surgery techniques—which Fessler not only developed, but his team also invented the instruments needed for the delicate surgery — he is decidedly upbeat about his lasting contribution to medicine and improving lives.

“Traditionally, doing back surgery, you would make an incision in the middle of the back and you’d cut the attachments of all the muscles and dissect them off the spine so you could get to the spine,” he says. “We weren’t happy with our results. People were in terrible pain, and if we were making people hurt just as much with our operation as when they came in, then we really weren’t doing them any favors.”

But after 20 years of perfecting his technique, Fessler reports, “I can do almost any spine surgery with minimally invasive techniques. Not just a herniated disc, but scoliosis and the impact that has on the patient is huge. It’s amazing.”

In person, Fessler is exactly whom you’d want by your bedside before facing a serious procedure—soft spoken and a great listener. One of the stories he tells me when we meet for this interview is about a college friend and fellow wrestler, who broke his neck on the mat and was paralyzed from the neck down. Fessler never wrestled again, but years later when one of his sons wanted to wrestle, he let him. “You have to acknowledge that you don’t have control of everything, and you live your life the best you can.”

When we talk about Senator Mark Kirk and his recovery, Fessler, who was his surgeon, is happy to tell a success story.

“He is paralyzed in his right arm, but other than that, he’s almost back to normal. He is certainly capable of being a great senator. That’s a disaster that changes your life but an inspirational story of someone who has overcome it.”

What fuels his devotion to his work? “Someone will have an accident, and you have a very short time to get out the hemorrhage in their brain, you get it out and they get their life back. That’s a great day.”

—By Laura Hine

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::connection

BODY

A CANCER DIAGNOSIS IS SIM-

heart-wrenching. Besides dealing with the disease itself, the fear and apprehension of treatment—in addition to the usual chaos of life—can be overwhelming.

In a non-descript conference room on the first floor of the Center for Advanced Care at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, cancer patients and survivors find comfort and help dealing with their diagnosis. The room’s tables are pushed to the walls, rectangular sticky mats line the floor, nubby wool blankets are piled high and chairs

are scattered about. At the center of it all is yoga instructor Alison Faith, welcoming her students—men and women— who are going through treatment or have survived cancer.

“My students are coping with fear, anxiety and sometimes depression, on top of all of the physical things that they are going through,” says Faith, a Glencoe resident who’s been teaching the class for over a year through a partnership with the Cancer Wellness Center in Northbrook. “They come to class in various degrees of health, sometimes just before a surgery. This is a safe place to get back in touch with their very core and leave behind their anxieties.”

The wellness connection between yoga and cancer has gotten a big boost in recent years, with the National Institutes of Health, Mayo Clinic and oncologists studying the correlation between a regular yoga practice and reduced sleep interruption, fatigue and dependence on sleep medication for patients. Not to mention the stress-relief that all yoga students report.

Breast-cancer survivor Deedee Chesley of Winnetka is a true believer. “Going to yoga was a reprieve. It allowed me to feel good, even for a short time.”

Faith circles the room, making personalized adjustments for students. Rehabilitative yoga takes years to learn; Alison, a certified teacher since 2004, has been studying the intricacies of instruction through her seven-year apprenticeship with renowned Yoga Circle director Gabriel Halpern. A busy mom to two teenage boys and a teen daughter, Faith’s prior professional background was as a lawyer.

According to CWC program coordinator Debbie Kronenberger, Faith’s class is a popular one: “She’s really an exceptional teacher.”

“These classes are the most exciting part of my teaching,” according to Faith, who also leads sessions at the Glencoe Park District. “My students are all terrific people, they’re lovely souls. And that I am helping them find peace – even if it’s only for an hour. It’s always a good feeling when you can be of real service.“ —By Jaime Baum

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Alison Faith Yoga Instructor, Cancer Wellness Center

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::challenge

BODY Jeff Freedman Mountaineer

THE SUMMER BEFORE JEFF FREED-

of Wilmette turned 50, he was working through a debilitating Achilles tendon rupture, feeling the loss of several longtime family friends, and worried he was peaking professionally.

“You go to funerals, and you walk out saying ‘that puts it all in perspective.’ But then you leave and you don’t change a damn thing,” he says. “I wanted to feel like I was living.”

Freedman decided to mark his milestone birthday with a major accomplishment, and he didn’t intend to do it alone.

In November of 2011, Freedman gathered a group of twelve friends and gave them a compelling PowerPoint presentation, proposing they climb Long’s Peak in Colorado that following August.

People die climbing Long’s Peak every year. It’s one of Colorado’s famous 14-ers, but it’s not just the altitude that makes it dangerous. The climb requires navigating an enormous boulder field, then scaling sheer vertical rock faces, narrow ledges and steep cliffs to get to the summit. The climb is so long, you have to start hours before sunrise.

“I knew it had to be physically challenging to mean something,” says Freedman. “I didn’t want it to be all about drinking beer, I’m over that. I wanted to get physical and motivate a bunch of people to do the same.”

Over the next nine months, Freedman sent out motivational playlists to the guys; checked in regularly to make sure they were working out. He revamped his diet, logged countless miles on the Stairmaster and swam for endurance. By August, he’d celebrated his 50th, lost 12 pounds, rehabbed his Achilles, and felt better than he had in years. And his Long’s Peak group had grown to an impressive 16 men.

The day of the climb, the men set out at 2 a.m. with three guides. After a grueling eight-hour climb, the entire group reached their joint goal—the Keyhole, a dramatic rock for-

mation at a dizzying 12,500 feet. The celebration there was sweet but short. Those that were going on to the summit had to keep moving.

Eight men continued on to the summit, led by Freedman.

The final phase was dangerous and physically taxing, but the guys agree that the biggest challenge was mental. When he reached the summit, Freedman broke down crying.

“It was like no other feeling I’ve ever had—completely and totally overpowering,” he recalls emotionally. “It was the combination of the personal achievement and the fact that everyone was forever linked—that we had this bond that would never be taken away.”

The celebrations at the summit and at the communal dinner later that night are indelible memories for these men.

But now, months later, the guys feel the experience has had an even deeper impact.

Scott Radtke, 43, of Wilmette says, “The climb validated my decision a few years ago to stop making my career the center of my life. Basing your life on a financial scorecard is shallow and fragile, while building a foundation of family and friends is rock solid.”

Mike Flynn, 45, also of Wilmette, says, “Thanks to the inspiration of my friends, I had the luxury of being able to proactively choose to accept and overcome what was a meaningful personal life challenge for me. I am a very lucky man.”

And as far as turning 50, for Freedman, Long’s Peak shed a new light on that too.

“Doing a physical thing to commemorate 50 validates that you’re still fresh and vibrant. I proved that I was physically up for the challenge. This totally makes me more excited and optimistic for the future.” He pauses. “God, now I’m jonesing to do something like this again,” he says with a grin.

“Kilimanjaro is totally doable.”

—By Marjie Killeen

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::philanthropy

Susan Morrison Women’s Sports Foundation

LAKE FOREST’S SUSAN MORRISON LOVES athletics.

She believes in the power of sport to transform lives— particularly for women and girls.

Almost ten years ago, she joined the board of the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), a national organization that advances the lives of women and girls through sports and physical activities.

Morrison particularly loves tennis. She grew up playing it competitively, and her role model was the legendary Billy Jean King, who founded WSF with the first tournament check she won. The opportunity to play in charity tennis clinics with King many years later eventually led Morrison to join WSF. She explains that Billy Jean launched the Foundation to give girls an equal opportunity to play sports. “WSF eventually grew to include research; Title IX advocacy; travel and training grants for promising athletes; a curriculum for girls, parents and teachers in underserved communities and more.”

WSF brings athletics to girls in Chicago and across the

country who wouldn’t otherwise have any sports opportunity, even as it helps develop the next generation of Olympic champions.

Morrison finds the data compelling. “Girls who participate in sports are more likely to experience academic success and graduate from high school. They have higher levels of self-esteem, better body image, less depression and fewer eating disorders.” She continues enthusiastically, “Sports also can be a starting point for fathers to get more involved in their daughters’ lives at a younger age. And girls with supportive fathers are more likely to become leaders.”

Although she is proud of all that WSF has accomplished, Morrison particularly loves the “Go Girl Go” curriculum offered through partner organizations across the country.

She explains, “I once listened to a circle of teenage girls in Chicago discuss the course they had just completed. I was moved to tears because they felt empowered and able to share their feelings as never before. That empowerment spreads to everything—school, work, feeling smart, every aspect of their lives!”

Morrison also enjoys the camaraderie of the WSF Board of Trustees, which includes national and Olympic champions, prominent business people and leaders of national sports organizations. “I’m personally inspired by the women with whom I’ve had the opportunity to work.” There is a healthy dose of glamour too, at the Annual Salute to Women In Sports gala in New York City. “It is unbelievably exciting to see these gorgeous women and think what they have accomplished!”

This is Morrison’s final year on the WSF board, so she has begun focusing more effort on the organization, “Women Moving Millions,” an initiative that raises the bar on philanthropic support for women and girls. But, she explains, “I will always stay involved with the Women’s Sports Foundation. The belief that sports can play an important role in the development of girls is part of my soul! My hope is to see this philosophy spread around the world.”

FUN FACT: Make It Better Philanthropy Award winner, Girls In The Game, is supported by the WSF and has used the Go Girl Go curriculum.

—By Susan B. Noyes

Annual Gala Gorgeous athletic glamour! Includes 2012 Olympic and Paraolympic champions. womenssportsfoundation.org

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amy marsch The Dailey Method

annemarie sampson Custom Fit

beetsy phillips Sachs Recreation Center

brigette nold Bikram North Shore

cecily casey RealFit Gym

Chris ashford Body Science PFT

chrissy fernandez Revolution Spin

cilla stoll Forever Om Yoga

colin parker Redefined Fitness

dan hicks Redefined Fitness

dana pieper EveryBody Fitness

deborah morris Personal Fitness Training

ellen nathan Sachs Recreation Center

emily shebert Bikram Yoga North Shore

eric smoot Redefined Fitness

fronzie roemer Fit with Fronzie

holly & heidi mcgregor and bernover Bikram Yoga North Shore

jason bressler Revolution Spin

jen solberg Spynergy Cycling Studio

jenny kaufman Jenny Kaufman Yoga

jenny mulliken The Dailey Method

jessyca neff Bikram Yoga North Shore

joann clemen Park Center - Together We Tri

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jordan king Body Science PFT

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fa m i ly

susan cain on

parenting an introvert

By Laur a Hine If you have a child who is an introvert, Susan Cain wants

to talk with you—preferably one-on-one and in a quiet, thoughtful manner.

She’s an introvert and the author of The New York Times bestselling book: “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking,” and a wildly popular TED talk.

We spoke before her local appearance at a Family Action Network event. She wants to help quiet children reach their full potential—especially given that schools, sports teams and the social whirl favor the gregarious and talkative versus the contemplative. Here is the edited version of that interview. continued on page 42

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If you have a child who is an introvert, what’s the best thing you can do for her?

The best thing a parent can do is to really love—not just tolerate—but really take delight in the child for who she is. Because what you find is that introverted children often have gifts that extroverted children don’t, and vice versa. So these children often have rich inner lives, they’re very conscientious, they’re very creative, they tend to get passionate about something and those passions can be a delight to behold.

But given that it’s such an extroverted society, if you have an introverted child, she’s going to be out of step with what is expected of her, and that’s the part she can use help with—learning how to navigate that.

So school is one area where an introverted child is probably out of step. What’s your advice there?

It’s understandable from a teacher’s point of view to want kids to be participating in the class, to make the class discussion rich and to know what the kid is thinking, but I think we’ve gone a little haywire with that. Try to work with your child to find ways of participating in a class that are comfortable for him, like preparing before a class what he wants to say, and then pushing him to say those things early in the discussion. A lot of people feel a rising anxiety when they haven’t spoken, and they feel like when they finally do raise their hand, it’s too big a deal. If you can speak up earlier, it removes all of that anxiety.

What happens when an introverted child reaches middle or high school? Social expectations really change in those years.

Hold on tight! Middle and high

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school for many introverts is really the hardest part of life. It gets better after that! In high school, the main social currency is being gregarious and vivacious. Later on in life, there are a lot more forms of social currency, but it’s much more limited in those years.

up to a new bunch of kids, you can say, “What are you going to do when you get there? Who are you going to speak to first?” Look for the kid who seems the most approachable and talk to her one on one and let her be the gateway into the group.

When do you push a child who is an introvert versus let him stay in his comfort zone?

It’s an art, not a science. I would be guided by the principle of push where you think there’s actually a benefit on the other side. If you think it’s something your child would enjoy once he overcame his initial discomfort, then it’s worth pushing through it. But if it’s asking him to participate in something that’s not meaningful to him, then let it go.

So how can parents help?

One thing is to help a child figure out what her passion is. That’s obviously important for any child, but it’s especially important for introverted kids because they often form social groups and derive support from being around kids who are interested in the same things they are. And they often ascend to leadership positions that they wouldn’t do for its own sake, but they do in the service of something they really love.

And what about socially?

It can be tremendously helpful to role play situations that are tricky before they actually have to encounter them. So a kid who has trouble going

Do you have special advice for parents who are extroverts versus parents who are introverts?

Introverted and extroverted parents who have an introverted child each have their own pressures. The extroverted parent might just be bewildered by the child who doesn’t want to do these things. The introverted parent might be reliving some of his or her own pain from high school, and might want to spare the child that pain, but inadvertently cause more by pushing in ways that they’re not comfortable. I think it’s so important to make peace with who you are and your own feelings about (high school) before you even think about the concrete steps to take with your kids.

What other suggestions do you have for parents who are struggling?

The last chapter of the book is on how to cultivate the gifts of introverted children and it’s filled with concrete

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suggestions. But the most important thing is to not just tolerate the child for who they are, but to truly take delight in them. I believe that whatever we feel inside manifests itself. Regardless of what we tell ourselves to say or do, people have a way of knowing what you’re thinking or feeling, and your children most of all. So if you think your child is really cool, your child knows that you feel that way and vice versa. None of the concrete tips are really as important as that, and if you need to do your own work to get to the point where you can really appreciate your child, then that’s the work you need to do.

And for parents who see their own social worth wrapped up in their children’s popularity?

It’s understandable if you get caught up in that sort of thing (Are they invited to parties? Are they popular?) because your child’s currency is your currency, but you need to step back and look at what you’re doing and try to make peace with your own issues.

Parents who are struggling should give themselves a break because it’s hard to parent an introverted child in this culture because all your friends and all the signs around you are saying your kid should be playing soccer and going to parties and having birthday parties with 50 other kids, and you can feel worried or anxious or impatient, so give yourself a break if you’re feeling those things, and then work beyond it.

Not sure if you’re an introvert or extrovert?

Take Cain’s online quiz to find out at thepowerofintroverts.com

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fa m i ly

brain health for every age

By Laur a Hine

No matter how old or young you are, you can take steps to protect and improve your brain’s cognitive function.

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Additional reporting by Jody B u ck

licensed clinical psychologist for the Chicago Center for Cognitive Wellness and a consultant with Mather LifeWay’s Brain Fitness Program, “You want to think about your brain like a bank account. If you have high reserves, you can ward off cognitive decline.” She sites autopsies that found some people who were still very functional had brains that showed as much evidence of Alzheimer’s disease as those who were profoundly compromised. The difference might be the level of cognitive reserve the individuals had banked over their lifetime.

According to Dr. Sherrie All, a

Here are six areas where you can build brain reserve: 1. Physical Exercise – Research shows you can actually grow new brain cells, and exercise is one of the best stimulants.

Dr. All says that exercise releases chemicals that are like “Miracle-Gro” for your brain.

2. Intellectual Stimulation – According to Dr. Konstantinos Arfanakis, who just completed a study for Rush University Medical Center and Illinois Institute of Technology, lots of activities beyond puzzles use our intellect in different ways. He recommends going to the theater, writing a letter, reading a book or playing games as fun challenges.

3. Socializing – Friends help protect our brains. It takes cognitive work to organize outings, remember details of others’ lives and navigate social mores (just ask any teenager). “Social isolation is a stress on par with smoking,” says Dr. All. “We are social primates who need to be with others.”

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4. Stress Management – If you don’t have a break from stress, it’s toxic to brain cells. “It’s okay to have challenge,” says Dr. All, but she emphasizes that our systems need breaks like vacations or meditation to rest the nervous system.

5. Nutrition – If it’s heart healthy, it’s brain healthy, and that includes moderate consumption of alcohol and coffee (yay!). To keep it simple, focus on whole foods that are full of phytonutrients, and avoid processed foods and packaged foods.

6. Spiritual –While scientists still aren’t sure of the mechanism, they consistently see links between attending religious services and living a longer, healthier life. Even if you don’t actively practice a religion, you can still practice gratitude or believe in a cause that’s bigger than yourself.

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fa m i ly | travel

a romantic getaway to the

golden

gate

By Julie Chernoff

Bring your heart to San Francisco, sure, but there’s no need to leave it there. It’s a great getaway for a long weekend: an easy, direct flight; plenty of boutique and luxury hotels; incredible food and beautiful scenery.

What’s not to love? Here are some helpful suggestions to plan your romantic idyll with your sweetie, including an excursion out to Sausalito.

Where to Lay Your Head

You’ll be smack in the middle of all the action at one of these three hotels, all close to the thriving SoMa (South of Market) arts district and the bustling shopping mecca of Union Square.

(A word to the wise: always go online first and join the hotel chains’ frequent traveler programs. They always lead to something, either an upgrade, free WiFi, etc., that you won’t want to miss.)

Hotel Palomar: Part of the Kimpton Hotel Group, Palomar provides a calming respite from busy Market

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Street. Check out their Chocolatourist or Shop ‘Til You Drop packages. 12 4th St., 866-373-4941, hotelpalomar-sf.com) Mandarin Oriental. Definitely in the luxury category. It’s a splurge, but aren’t you worth it? Fabulous views, lovely lush amenities, impeccable service. 222 Sansome St., 415-677-9494, mandarinoriental.com/sanfrancisco W Hotel. The height of downtown cool, their lobby bar is a destination in itself, and there’s a Bliss Spa right upstairs. Loved our corner room, filled

with light and overlooking the Yerba Buena Gardens. 181 3rd St., 415-7775300, starwoodhotels.com/whotels

Live to Eat

It would almost be easier to tell you where not to eat. San Francisco has a lot in common with Paris; as long as you stay away from tourist traps, it’s nearly impossible to find a bad meal.

That being said, here are some of my favorites: Delfina. Venture into the Mission District for some of the best Italian food. The Pizzeria Delfina next door is also splendiferous. 3621 18th St., 415552-4055, delfinasf.com DOSA on Fillmore. Indian food, San Francisco-style (organic, sustainable, bio-dynamic and oh-so groovy).

Incredible space and décor, always in the top 100 Bay Area restaurants. 1700 Fillmore St., 415-441-3672, dosasf.com

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Greens. The original gourmet vegetarian restaurant; it hasn’t lost a step.

Still the most beautiful view in town, overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge through floor-to-ceiling windows. Fort Mason, Bldg. A, 415-771-6222, greensrestaurant.com Nopa. Farm to table in an old bank building in the Hayes Valley neighborhood. Possibly my favorite restaurant in town, and the cocktails are glasslicking good. 560 Divisadero, 415-8648643, nopasf.com

Beach Blanket Babylon. Seminal San Francisco entertainment involving drag and enormous hats.

What You’ll Want to Do/Visit

Side Trip to Sausalito!

The Ferry Building. Incredible food mecca, including Recchiuti Chocolatier and Cowgirl Creamery.

Hop on the ferry and catch a ride over (or consider renting bikes and riding across the Golden Gate Bridge for a thrill) so that you don’t miss the best sushi in the Bay Area. Sushi Ran (107 Caledonia St., 415-332-3620, sushiran. com) is just that good. While you’re over there, make a pilgrimage to the home base of Heath Ceramics (400 Gate Five Rd., 415-332-3204, heathceramics.com) for a tour and a visit to their showroom.

The Painted Ladies of Alamo Square. Even more beautiful up close.

Union Square Shopping. They’ve even got a Uniqlo!

Alcatraz. Yes, Alcatraz. Sometimes, the tourists are right. Deal with

it. But make sure to buy your tickets in advance for the best choice of times.

Trolley Rides. See note above.

Photo <credit>

SPQR. New interpretations of Italian recipes using Bay Area ingredients.

Pretty astounding, actually. Walk it off before or after on scenic Fillmore Street. 1911 Fillmore St., 415-771-7779, spqrsf.com

Slanted Door. This Vietnamese stunner is perennially packed. My advice? Go at lunch for an easier reservation, much of the same menu and a great view of the Bay Bridge. Do not miss the Caramelized Wild Catfish Claypot … or the flavored cloud of Cotton Candy. Ferry Bldg. #3, 415-861-8032, slanteddoor.com

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HOUSE A N ATO M Y

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S T O R Y + P H O T O S B Y TAT E G U N N E R S O N

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W H E N K AWHEN T I E DKATIE U N NDUNN C A MCAMPBELL P B E L L first began house hunting, she avoided looking at new construction homes, which all too often felt “slapped up.” But when she toured this six-bedroom home in Glenview, she knew straightaway that it was the right home for her family. “When I walked in, I was like, this is it,” Campbell, a busy mother of five children, explains. “It had kind of an old-school feel with all the modern amenities.”

Doug Reynolds, of The Reynolds Group in Northfield, designed and built the home. Ninety percent of the homes that Reynolds designs are custom jobs. For the remaining ten percent, he relies on his own instincts. “When I build a spec home, it gives me a chance to do what I think is right for the site,” says Reynolds, who describes the 4200-sq. ft. home as an updated farmhouse with New England influences. “Every room feels properly scaled proportionally to the house,” Reynolds says. “The back of the house is perfect for how most people live.”

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A FRONT FOYER WITH ENOUGH

space for a small seating area opens to formal living and dining areas. At the back of the house, a large kitchen with a breakfast area and a pair of built-in desks leads into a self-contained family room. Wide-plank walnut floors provide a pleasing contrast to painted walls, moldings and kitchen cabinets. “No matter where you look, you’ll see things that relate to each other,” Reynolds says, pointing to the legs on the kitchen island, which echo the design of the fireplace mantels throughout the house. “A kitchen should not feel like a foreign space in the home. It has a more custom feel because it all matches.”

For the interior design, Campbell opted for a more contemporary aesthetic by incorporating colorful wall coverings, painted furniture and bright accessories and art. “I’m not into dainty flowers like some of my gal pals are.

That’s pretty, but it’s just not my vibe,” Campbell explains. “I like color.”

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lighter, brighter I N T E R I O R

D E S I G N

BY KRISTINA TOBER

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PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY COURAGE

HOM E

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For some tips on moving from dull mid-winter design to lighter, brighter spring palettes, we reached out to Swedish native Annika Christenson, interior designer and owner of Midnight Sun Antiques, and interior designer Susan Kroeger and owner of Susan Kroeger for the Home.

With Christenson’s Swedish-inspired design mantras of tread lightly and keep it natural, and Kroeger’s passion for color, we’re certain you’ll find more than a few simple changes to brighten up your home.

introduce color  Christenson suggests choosing a single accent color as a way to both visually limit clutter and add cheer to your space.

Whether it’s cream or white, pops of canary yellow or emerald green, a single accent color can be carried throughout your space using pillows, vases, artwork, lamps, and more.  Remember, accents don’t have to match the color palette and certainly don’t have to fall into the same style period.

It’s in the juxtaposition of old and new, and hue tension, that style is achieved. Having that single color in mind, suggests Christenson, makes it much easier to find the perfect treasure while scouring vintage stores.

keep it fresh  Join the terrarium trend, or plant a few succulents and cacti in a favorite low bowl. And don’t forget the quintessential orchid.

Even with a black thumb, these plants are low-key and hardy enough to endure minimal attention.  Skip the mixed bouquets and staid arrangements. Whether it’s bunches of roses, tulips or lilies, masses of flowers add a punch of color to a dull room.  Never underestimate the power of a fresh coat of paint for adding a clean, fresh feel to your space.

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bottom Photo courtesy of kravet soleil

 Revered for her use of color, Kroeger likes to spark a neutral backdrop with brilliantly hued pillows and throws, vases and trays, lamps and flowers—all elements easy to swap in and out as the season (and your mood) changes.

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add light  Nothing brightens like pure white candles against the sparkle of crystal, glass, pewter or silver. But skip the fragrance.

Christenson loves to brighten her evenings with candles grouped on a tray.  White Italian lights can add sparkle even after the holidays—string on an indoor plant or twinkling around a window.  Upgrade your lamps and lampshades and ditch the heavy metals and ornate designs; there’s no easier way to introduce a contemporary element to a tired traditional space. For Kroeger, a brilliantly hued ceramic lamp is the perfect place to add a pop of color. Christenson loves the classic, contemporary Noguchi white paper spheres or traditional lamps in gorgeous custom colors offered by the Urban Electric Company (see photo below).  Strip down heavy drapery and opt for a more Swedish style that allows for optimum natural light.

curate your art  Update your favorite prints and paintings with new matting and frames.  Opt for passion over provenance. Gallery or garage sale, if a piece lifts your mood, it’s valuable art to you.  Since art isn’t meant to “match” your décor, move it around. Kroeger’s living room is a virtual gallery of rotating art.  Don’t be afraid to mix periods and styles. Collecting art over time keeps it authentic and prevents the cookie cutter look.

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HOM E

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

make your home

your own

BY LAUR A TIEBERT

No more excuses. When it comes to decorating, the time to act is now.

Decorating isn’t about hiring a designer or buying fancy or expensive things.

It’s about ripping the brown paper wrappers off your pictures and hanging them anywhere. So unpack your pictures already! Because let’s face it: You moved in five years ago. What are you waiting for?

1 PAINT

Do you have five huge blotches of various shades of gray on your living room wall? Did you start the project last summer, and 2013 has rolled around to find you’re still debating between “silver cloud” and “iron mountain”? Stop agonizing and call the painter to book a day.

Now that you have a deadline, corral a friend and get a second opinion. Or heck, close your eyes and point at one. After all, it’s just paint, and paint is easy to change.

Not sure about colors?

Try the Sherwin-Williams color visualizer at sherwin-williams.com

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BOTTOM PHOTO PHOTO COURTESY OF SHERWIN-WILLIAMS

Here are six easy ways to make your home your own.

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Glint Pendant Lamp, $329, Crate and Barrel

TOP PHOTO PHOTO COURTESY OF CRATE AND BARREL, BOTTOM PHOTO COURTSEY OF RESTORATION HARDWARE

2 LIGHT FIXTURES.

Is there a brand new light fixture still in its box, sitting on the floor underneath the 1980s shiny brass and glass fixture you’ve been meaning to replace since the day you moved in, back in 2006? Every time you look at the fixture, you cringe, so get on with it, and call an electrician today. While you’re at it, have the electrician put dimmers on a bunch of your fixtures. It doesn’t take long and it’s a great way to improve your home’s ambience.

Maddox Knob, $13–$15, Restoration Hardware

3 HARDWARE

Is your kitchen marred by ugly cabinet knobs that you swore you couldn’t live with when you bought your house? Let me guess: They’re still there, and they’re still ugly. You’ve lived with them for too long, so get yourself to a hardware store and find updates. Oh, and while you’re at the store, you might want to consider replacing your shower heads with fresh ones.

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5 RUGS

Does your rug look like a postage stamp surrounded by a giant expanse of bare flooring? You made the mistake of not going large enough with your area rug, and you need to up the ante. Get a rug that fits, and you will lift the look of your decor. If you've got a 5'x8' rug in a 10' x 11' room, you need to size up.

(For recommendations, search "correct size rug for room," and you'll get lots of helpful guides.)

4 CURTAINS

You can’t keep that sheet duct-taped to your bedroom window forever, can you? Buy some super long curtains that pool on the floor, and hang them high. While you’re at it, buy a ton of floor-length sheers and hang them all over your house, in arched doorways as well as over windows. Nothing says, “we’ve settled in” the way window treatments do.

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6 UNPACKED BOXES Oh, ye of the unpacked mystery boxes. By the time you move again, those stillsealed cardboard boxes are going to be a time capsule documenting an ancient past, and I am willing to put money on the fact that you will have no recollection of ever owning any of this stuff. Unpack the boxes and keep, toss or pass the contents on to someone who can use them.

PHOTO <CREDIT>

Walnut Bamboo Panels, $58–$62, Cost Plus World Market

LEFT PHOTO PHOTO COURTESY OF COST PLUS WORLD MARKET, BOTTOM PHOTO COURTSEY OF POTTERY BARN

Scroll Tile Rug in Terra Cotta, $179–$849, Pottery Barn

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LEFT PHOTO PHOTO COURTESY OF COST PLUS WORLD MARKET, BOTTOM PHOTO COURTSEY OF POTTERY BARN

more ONLINE Thinking of updating your home this spring?

You’ve got to get organized first! Make sure you have these Home Organization Must-Haves:

Shredder. Finally toss those old bills and bank statements.

Label Maker. Keep your files and storage bins uniform with neat labels.

Mesh Drawer Organizers. If your junk drawer is more like a black hole, these dividers will offer some semblance of order.

For the full list, visit makeitbetter.net/ at-home

Looking for even more ways to freshen up your home? You’ll love: No Shoes in the House— Here’s Why

Style Shortcuts for a Beautiful Bed Lighten Up Your Window Treatments

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8 W. SPRIN G AV E .

naperville DAYTRIPPER

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4. ANDERSON’S BOOKSHOP Consider this The Book Stall or Lake Forest Book Shop of the West—Anderson’s has an enormous, well-curated selection, as well as killer events and author visits. 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville, 630-355-2665, andersonsbookshop.com

6. TWISTED OLIVE IMPORTS Comfy chairs beckon you to take a break and taste some of the finest olive oils and balsamic vinegars around—owner Mary Shearer has created a cozy environment for everyone from the occasional shopper to book club gatherings and wine tastings. 232 S. Washington St., Naperville, 630778-9550; twistedoliveimports.com 7. NAPER SETTLEMENT Just a few blocks from Naperville’s downtown district, this 13-acre indoor/outdoor museum is living history. Step back in time to the 1800s and witness the challenges and beauty of Midwestern life. 523 S. Webster St., Naperville, 630-420-6010, napersettlement.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF BELLA CALEY

3. BELLA CALEY A local favorite, this chic, urban-vibe boutique offers clothing, accessories and even home décor (think housewarming gifts!) at very accessible price points.

20 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville, 630-3694991, bellacaley.com

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5. CAMPBELL HILL UPSCALE RESALE Is there anything better than that great “find”—the one you tell your friends about for weeks? Look no further than this resale boutique, offering only the best brands in top form. 236 S. Washington St., Naperville, 630-857-3498, campbellhillupscaleresale.com

2. MEG AND ME Stay on trend with a great selection, including Rebecca Taylor, Trina Turk and Tracy Reese. 175 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville, 630-355-4400; megandme.net

APRIL 2013

AV E .

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W. JEFFER

W E B S T E R S T.

Spring is here—and with it, an urge to shake the cabin fever that’s had you in its grip these last few months. Why not escape to the west side for a few hours? Naperville is just short of an hour’s drive from most northern ‘burbs—and while it boasts more than 142,000 residents, the downtown shopping and dining opportunities evoke a small town chic that makes a girls’ day out so much fun. Here are a few places that will make a daytrip worth it:

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1. LE CHOCOLAT DU BOUCHARD Step out of the Starbucks rut and start your day off with a mocha or latte in this cozy chocolate and dessert bistro. 127-129 S. Washington St., Naperville, 630-355-5720, lechocolatdubouchard.com

NORTH N . WA S H I N GTO N S T.

BET T E R YOU

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PHOTO COURTESY OF DUPAGE CHILDRENS MUSEUM

8. DUPAGE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM If little kids are in tow, treat them to a couple hours at this top-rated, child-centered destination. Hands on with an emphasis on “you are learning without even knowing it” fun. 301 N. Washington St., Naperville, 630-637-8000; dupagechildrens.org

10. BLACKFINN AMERICAN SALOON If a burger and beer is more your style, BlackFinn serves up a bunch of great alternatives, including the Bourbon Street—a blackened burger with garlic herb cream cheese and a peppercorn sauce. Yum. 16 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville, 630-717-0400; blackfinnnaperville.com

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9. FIAMMÉ Thinking pizza? Think Fiammé. Don’t miss the Regina Margherita—and yes, they have gluten-free dough! 19 N. Washington St., Naperville, 630-470-9441, fiammepizza.com

11. TWO-NINE  A great place to wind down after a day of shopping— eclectic ambiance in a cozy little martini bar. Order me the Grape Skittle. 29 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville, 630-355-9165, two-ninemartinilounge.com

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By E va n g e l i n e P o l i t i s

|

p h o t o s b y n at h a n i e l p e r r y

Fit

perfectly

Photo <credit>

Make It Better spent an afternoon in the relaxing confines of Bikram North Shore Yoga photographing some of the seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest activewear. From running to yoga, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve created an outfit for whichever way you choose to get fit.

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BPA-Free This small, BPA-free water bottle is ergonomically configured to reduce hand tension while running.

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Sync with your iPod! These shoes are Nike+ enabled, so you can track the calories youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve burned, steps youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve taken, and much more.

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page 65 Tory Burch tote, $375, Nordstrom; Mosabee Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat, $44, Bikram North Shore Yoga; Keith Haring water bottle, $22, Sigg Switzerland

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Printed running top, $69, Athleta; Nike Dri-Fit running shorts, $34, Nordstrom; Amphipod handheld bottle, $22, Athleta; ASICS GEL-Kayano 19 running shoe, $145, Nordstrom

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Nike Dri-Fit tank, $42, Nordstrom; Running skort, $49, Athleta; Marc by Marc Jacobs printed tote, $198, Nordstrom; CamelBak stainless water bottle, $35, Dickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sporting Goods

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adidas by Stella McCartney tank, $100, Nordstrom; Zella capri, $48, Nordstrom; Nike Free TR Fit 2 trainer, $90, Nordstrom; iPod Shuffle, $49, Apple

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Nike Pro Dri-Fit half zip, $60, Nordstrom; Stella McCartney for Adidas running pant, $110, Nordstrom; Nike Free Run+ 3 running shoe, $100, Nordstrom

Glass CamelBak, $25, Athleta

Zella gym duffle, $88, Nordstrom; Nike sports sunglasses, $110, Nordstrom; iPod Shuffle, $49, Apple; CamelBak stainless water bottle, $35, Dickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sporting Goods

Special thanks to:

Bikram Yoga North Shore 1926 Waukegan Rd, Glenview, IL 60025, (847) 998-6030

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Adjustable Bra The Armour Bra has an adjustable hookand-eye closure and is available in different band and cup sizes.

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Dishwasher Safe The easily removable sleeve means washing in the dishwasher is an option.

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opposite page

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Body Armour adjustable sports bra, $58, Nordstrom; Jacket, $128, Athleta; Renew Revelation pant, $98, Athleta; Zella gym duffle, $88, Nordstrom

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Cashmere hoodie, $189, Athleta; Zella parachute pants, $74, Nordstrom; Prana Bhakti yoga bag, $40, Athleta

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adidas by Stella McCartney drawstring tank, $110, Nordstrom; Nike printed capri, $65, Nordstrom

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Printed tank, $59, Athleta; Glass CamelBak, $25, Athleta; Yogabela shorts, $42, Bikram Yoga North Shore

Brooks â&#x20AC;&#x153;PureConnect 2â&#x20AC;? running shoe, $90, REI

Nike Free TR Fit 2 trainer, $90, Nordstrom

New Balance 1600 running shoe, $110, New Balance North Shore

ASICS GEL-Kayano 19 running shoe, $145, Nordstrom

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BET T E R YOU

5 no-sweat beauty solutions

BY BELINDA LICHT Y CL ARKE

While no one recommends exercising in full makeup, there are days when you’re running from yoga to PTA to birthday lunch, and it would be nice to look a little polished throughout the day. Here are 5 tips for preventing makeup melt and keeping your skin and hair healthy.

1. Create an antibacterial layer between you and your makeup.

Foundation primers work well, and even if you skip the foundation, they still help minimize pores and create a smooth surface. Look for oil-free liquid primers with natural minerals, SPF coverage and some tint to help create a natural glow.

Before you apply makeup, prep your face with a skin-friendly toner spritz.

This will help moisturize and create an antibacterial surface. Spray toners are especially helpful to help keep blemishes at bay during sweaty workouts.

WE LIKE: Murad Hybrids Skin Perfecting Primer $35 and Sircuit Cosmeceuticals Molecular Mist toner $36

2. Buy products with staying power.

Eye shadow that last 12 hours? It does exist, it’s affordable and it’s all the rage right now.

Whether you opt for trendy shades or more mature neutrals, high-pigment, budge-proof eye shadow is great and foolproof. Just dip your pinkie and swipe the color across your eyelid. Blend slightly, but not too much, and you’re set for the day. You can also beef up your blush or bronzer. Look for products that are labeled “water resistant,” “splash-proof,” or “long wear.” WE LIKE: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo $7 and Cargo Water Resistant Bronzer $28.

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3. Skip the powder and create a dewy look. It’s hard to maintain a matte complexion when you’re working out.

Instead, go for a natural look with minimal effort. Cream blushers and bronzers are perfect for sweeping across cheeks and even double as eye shadow in a pinch to help create a sunkissed glow. Add a tinted lip balm and you’re done. Still need to minimize the shine post-workout? Opt for blotting paper to control shine without smudging your makeup. WE LIKE: Josie Maran Argan Mini Color Stick $14 and Clinique Chubby Stick, $16. For shine control: Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets $5 .

4. Dial back your moisturizer. Heavier skin creams are great in winter, but to keep your skin clear, opt for a lighter version in the spring. Oil-free moisturizers with anti-bacterial properties feel light on your skin and won’t clog pores.

Look for ingredients such as tea tree oil (a natural blemish-fighting ingredient), rose water, white tea, salicylic acid or zinc. And, be sure to pick a day cream with added SPF. WE LIKE: For blemish and oil control try Derma-E Very Clear Problem Skin Moisturizer $20. Our SPF pick Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunblock SPF 55 $10.

5. Keep your scalp healthy. Sweat and swim dry out your hair, and also affect your scalp. To keep your hair (and head) healthy, invest in a scalp-friendly hair care line, with ingredients such as mint, rosemary and wintergreen.

Aveda’s new Invati hair care line uses wintergreen-derived salicylic acid to help remove oily buildup that can clog pores and works to stimulate your scalp. WE LIKE: Aveda Invati Exfoliating Shampoo $24 and John Frieda Root Awakening Purify + Nourish Shampoo $5.

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long-lasting

BY E VA N G E L I N E

POLITIS

STEPS TOWARD THE MOST KISSABLE, LONG-LASTING LIPS with a lip primer to condition 1 Start and soften your lips. This will mini-

mize feathering and keep color on your lips (rather than on your teeth). is Panahiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s secret: apply a neu2 This tral lip liner all over the entire lip to

serve as a base coat for your canvas.

a powder to set those first 3 Use layers. She suggests applying a light

dusting of whatever you use on your face.

apply the lipstick of your 4 Next, choice. If you want to make a state-

ment, poppy and hot pink are the trending lip colors of the year. Rather be subtle?

Stick to a soft coral or pink. a bit of shimmer with a coat of 5 Add lip gloss and pucker up!

For product recommendations and more tips, go to makeitbetter.net/better-you.

Thanks to makeup guru Nafissa Panahi at Elizabeth Arden Red Door Beauty Salon in Northbook.

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BET T E R YOU

• Improved aerobic fitness • Enhanced athletic performance • Reduced body fat and increased metabolism • Shortened, more efficient exercise time • Renewed interest in exercise (this isn’t boring) TRY THESE

Two popular HIIT methods are Tabata and the Little Method. Tabata uses eight cycles: 20 seconds of intense exercise, followed by 10 seconds of recovery, for a total of 4 minutes. The Little Method is 8-12 cycles; 60 seconds of intense exercise followed by 75 seconds of recovery. On the elliptical, you would go all out for the specified time, go easy, then repeat.

BY CHRIST Y COUGHLIN WANT TO BURN MORE FAT

with a quick, efficient, fun workout? Try high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which involves short periods of intense exercise followed by easier recovery or rest. Elite athletes have used HIIT for decades to improve performance. Recreational athletes are turning to HIIT because of the dramatic results.

A recent study published in the Journal of Physiology demonstrated profound benefits with HIIT including:

Tabata

Little Method

Warm-up

5-10 minutes easy 5-10 minutes easy

Intense

20 seconds

60 seconds

Recovery

10 seconds

75 seconds

Repeat

8 times

8-12 times

Cool down

5-10 minutes easy 5-10 minutes easy

Interval time

4 minutes

18-27 minutes

FOR ALL SPORTS

HIIT can be applied to most sports. The short amount of time needed to train makes it possible to get an amazing workout no matter what your day holds.

Stuck at a volleyball tournament all weekend? Abandon the doughnut-eating parent crowd, find the stairwell, and run the stairs 10 times, recovering on the way down. HIIT is easy to adapt to machines at the gym, swimming, cycling, basketball and weight lifting.

Stuck at home waiting for the cable guy? Use HIIT as you jump rope to make the best use of your time.

BEFORE YOU START

Start slowly with short intervals, at a medium intensity. As your body adapts to the training, increase the duration and intensity of the intervals. A few more tips: • Record your progress to avoid overtraining and injury • Limit HIIT sessions to 2-3 per week • Complete a thorough warm up before each session Few things in life can promise quicker and better, but HIIT is one of them. Shorten that three-mile walk by including 1 minute intervals of fast walking to strengthen your heart and legs, skinny up your waist, keep things exciting and make you feel great all day.

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BET T E R YOU | finance

north shore

fitness deals

BY MEGHAN STREIT

Beach season is almost upon us.

If you want to tone up without breaking the bank, check out these North Shore fitness deals that sweeten the deal with perks like on-site childcare and low-cost introductory packages.

Chicago Northshore Kinetics: Want to test out a new type of workout without a big financial commitment? Chicago Northshore Kinetics offers 3 private sessions as an introductory package for $180. Try their Gyrokinesis class, which combines self-massage, breathing patterns and spinal motions to stretch and strengthen muscles. Or check out Gyrotonic, an exercise system that incorporates movements from yoga, dance, gymnastics, swimming and tai chi. Mention Make It Better when purchasing an introductory package and receive two free group classes ($40 value). cnskinetics. com, 515 Davis St., Evanston, 847-866-9655 Core Power Yoga: You can build strength and flexibility while reducing stress with a regular yoga regime. New students can get into the groove by taking advantage of unlimited free yoga classes for one week. corepoweryoga.com, Westfield Old Orchard, Skokie, 847-675-7175 The Dailey Method: Ballet barre workouts are all the rage because they can give you the long, lean look of a dancer’s body. Find out what the barre method is all about on the cheap at The Dailey Method. New members get unlimited classes their first month for $100 and on-site childcare is available for $6 per child. thedaileymethod.com, locations in Kenilworth, Lake Forest and Northbrook The Exercise Coach: Personal training can help you reach your fitness goals faster because you get individualized workouts. The Exercise Coach has several Chicagoland locations and offers free four-session introductory packages. exercisecoach.com, 1100 Central Ave., Wilmette, 847-920-7792 Fit Girl Studio: Evanston’s Fit Girl Studio caters to clients of all fitness ages. Choose from a variety of workouts including barre, ballet conditioning and spinning. Or, try some unique classes like candlelight yoga and dance party yoga. $20 will buy new clients one week of unlimited classes. fitgirlstudio.com, 1642 Maple Ave., Evanston, 847-869-4475

Stroller Strides: Lose the baby weight while spending time with your child and meeting other moms. Stroller Strides combines power walking and intervals of strength and toning exercises using exercise tubing and your own stroller. Bonus: No need to shell out for a sitter. Classes are in Libertyville and Arlington Heights. strollerstrides.net, contact Kristen Dowd, 773-329-5619, kristendowd@strollerstrides.net

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PHOTO <CREDIT>

Revolution Spin Studio: From March 1 to April 15, you can take 15 percent off of any package at Revolution Spin with the code MAKEITBETTER. Owner Jason Bressler says you can burn up to 1,300 calories in each spin class – big bang for your fitness buck. Plus, the studio recently added yoga, zumba and pilates classes as well as personal training sessions. revolutionspinning.com, 904 Sherman Ave., Evanston, 847-440-4262

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BET T E R YOU | sex and the suburbs

Breathe deep and do your kegels BY

MARJIE KILLEEN

This month we’re celebrating the body, so as your faithful sex columnist, I’d like to draw your attention to your oft-neglected pelvic floor muscles. The group of muscles down there (also called PC muscles) that holds all our pelvic organs in place. You’re probably clenching them right now, just thinking about them. We don’t talk about PC muscles much, but we all have them—men too—and keeping them in good shape has lots of benefits. surgery, aging and weight gain can weaken the PC muscles. Doctors generally prescribe Kegel exercises (named after the doctor who developed them) to prevent incontinence, and any woman who’s ever peed a little after a big sneeze or a good laugh can relate. Kegel exercises are a simple series of clenching and releasing that you can do anywhere—at your desk, in the car, at your kid’s soccer game—if you remember, that is, because most of us often forget.

Well, courtesy of tantra yoga teachers Dr. Elsbeth Meuth and Freddy Zental Weaver of the TantraNova Institute in Chicago, I’m here to share a real incentive for connecting with this important muscle group—better sex!

I always thought tantric yoga was a series of sensuous yoga positions, but Meuth and Weaver’s focus is on tapping into sexual energy, and the way to build and sustain that energy is by combining movement of the PC muscles with deep breathing. When both partners are able to connect to and control their sexual energy in this way, they can feel heightened sensa-

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tion and experience prolonged and stronger orgasms during lovemaking. But to get to the amazing sex part, a woman needs to get in touch with herself first.

Meuth says, “In order for a woman to feel well—emotionally, spiritually and physically—she wants to have a connection with her pelvic floor. It’s where we feel emotion as women.”

Freddy Zental Weaver & Dr. Elsbeth Meuth

PHOTO COURTESY OF TANTRANOVA INSTITUTE

FOR WOMEN, PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH,

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She calls a woman’s vagina by the Sanskrit word yoni. “A yoni is a sacred space like a cathedral. Women don’t often feel that way about themselves.

We can embrace the yoni, be with it in a cherishing way, and that lets us be more inviting to another. Considering it a sacred space alters the relationship.”

When kegels are practiced with the proper breathing technique, the experience is totally altered, says Meuth.

Women will experience a more connected feeling with themselves and more wholeness.

The focus for men, says Weaver, is to control and extend orgasm. The result of this practice for both men and women, he says, is “not just better sex, it’s a better life. Creative and sexual pleasure have the same energy and chemical components.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the specific practice, visit tantranova.com where you can download an mp3 file to guide you through it. Another tool Meuth recommends for women is a jade egg. The egg, when inserted in the yoni, acts as resistance during exercises and can be worn for extended periods of time. “When the egg is inside the yoni, the nerve endings get subtly stimulated,” says Meuth. “The muscles get lightly toned even if you don’t squeeze.”

Sex & the Suburbs ­— Live!

Sizzling Couples Dr. Elsbeth Meuth and Freddy Zental Weaver will be my special guests. You’ll love hearing what this striking and entertaining pair has to say about sex and sexuality.

June 13 | 7:30 p.m. | $20 Wilmette Theatre 1122 Central Ave. 847-251-7424 wilmettetheatre.com

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WARD EIGHT Speakeasy on Howard Street

a comfortable North Shore bar with craft cocktails, delicious bites and warm and attentive proprietors.

Put the hip, but still warm and welcoming, Ward Eight on your list of must-visits. Owned and operated by the husband-wife team of Anne Carlson and Cody Modeer, the clientele is a mix of Rogers Park and Evanston neighbors and industry professionals, with nary a cougar in sight. This is not a see and be seen bar, but a place to feel a part of a community of people who truly care about food and drink.

IT’S NOT EASY TO FIND

WET YOUR WHISTLE

I really want to give props to the cocktails, which are beautifully made and balanced. My favorite? The Corpse Reviver #2 ($10), circa 1930, a sprightly, citrusy blend of Gin #11, Curacao, fresh lemon juice, Lillet Blanc and Absinthe. Anne, a delightful presence in the bar, shared the scandalous

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back story of absinthe with our group.

FYI: it’s safe to drink and won’t lead to hallucinations!

Whiskey drinkers will appreciate the Toronto ($10), circa 1948, which combines High West Rye, Fernet Branca and Angostura bitters in a beautifully proportioned drink; our resident vodka fan went for the Moscow Mule ($10), circa 1941, made with Pure Blue Vodka, fresh lime juice, Fever Tree Ginger Ale and bitters. Very refreshing.

We also loved that they went offmenu for one of our guests, who professed a love of both bubbly and bitter.

For her, they crafted an off-menu Happy Mistake ($10), Campari, vermouth and prosecco uniting to provide exactly what the doctor ordered.

GET IN MY BELLY!

And the food? The perfect accompaniment to adult cocktails. Snacks like Fall Pickles ($4), yummy Za’atar-

Spiced Marcona Almonds ($4) and Marinated Olives ($5) bring the salty; but if you’re there to really eat (and you should be!), you’ll want to start with the Butternut Squash Soup ($7), warmly spiced and velvety smooth, topped with a spiced pecan cream.

The Queso de Cabra ($7), goat cheese mixed with tomato and spices and served with crostini, was pleasant but not nearly as calorie worthy as the rest of the meal.

An Artisan Cheese or Charcuterie Platter($15) is an easy partner for your beer or wine, but I’m a big fan of the sandwiches. I’m still dreaming of the Fig and Farmer’s Cheese ($10), Red Hen Tuscan bread slathered with housemade fig preserves, farmer’s cheese, arugula and, for an additional $2, salty and luscious La Quercia prosciutto (do it!). Griddled all hot and buttery, this one is sandwich perfection.

We also enjoyed the Ward Eight ($14), pulled Amish chicken tossed

PHOTOS BY LAURA HINE

BY JULIE CHERNOFF

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in bourbon BBQ sauce, layered with celeriac remoulade and pickled jalapenos on Red Hen marble rye. The Ham and Cheese ($12) was tasty, but basically just a really good ham and cheese. All sandwiches were served (with fresh potato chips and more of those fall pickles) on wooden boards, a smart (and historically accurate) touch.

Two desserts are available: a super dense, dark Chocolate Torte ($7) on a pecan crust topped with brandied fruit, and a Traditional Flan ($6) flavored with Licor 43, a citrusy Spanish liqueur. The flan, though delicious, did not have the “traditional” texture we expected; it was less custardy and more like cheesecake in consistency.

Ward Eight 629 Howard St. Evanston, IL 847-420-7353 wardeight.com

THE HISTORY CHANNEL

And how did this sophisticated speakeasy get to Evanston? Modeer and Carlson, who met when both worked at Andersonville’s late, lamented In Fine Spirits. Thanks to a lead from FEW Spirits Distillery owner Paul Hletko, they worked with Evanston’s Economic Development Division and Eighth Ward Alderman Anne Rainey to create the space in a city-owned, three-story building in the city’s southern TIF district. Modeer and Carlson live upstairs with their adorable daughter, so it’s really a throwback to the old mom-and-pop establishment, albeit much, much hipper.

There’s a commitment to both craft and history here that I haven’t seen elsewhere. The provenance of each cocktail is detailed on the menu. Modeer is clearly an ardent student of mixology; the bar’s moniker is a reference not only to its Evanston political ward, but also a drink that dates back to the early twentieth century, composed of rye, fresh orange and lemon juice, and grenadine.

Even the tables and the long bar top are steeped in history, made of reclaimed wood from old church pews.

Keep in mind that this joint is not large; you might want to stop by during the week because it’s already jammed on weekends. It’s just a few short blocks from the Howard Street El and there’s plenty of parking.

So happy to welcome these worthy newcomers to the North Shore; glad that they landed on the north side of Howard Street so that we can claim them as our own.

We’ll be back, and often.

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chicago Bar Toma Their namesake salad is the perfect counterpoint to a wood-fire baked pizza.

Radicchio and arugula provide the base; then hard-boiled egg, fennel, capers, celery, carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and Toma cheese are piled on top with a lemony vinaigrette. 110 E. Pearson St., 312266-3110, bartomachicago.com Boarding House Their Kale Caesar Salad, with a red winepoached egg, white anchovies and Pecorino cheese, is lovely… and healthy-ish! 720 N. Wells St., 312-280-0720, boardinghousechicago.com Dragon Ranch Bring a friend to share the huge Grilled Garden Salad—mixed Asian greens, grilled cauliflower and green beans, edamame,

strands of carrot and watermelon radish, and rotisserie chicken all tossed with a bleu cheese vinaigrette. 441 N. Clark St., 312955-1900, dragonranch.com RPM Italian They took an antipasto plate and made it into Giuliana’s Italian Salad, featuring crisp greens, fresh and pickled veggies, salami and cheese with piquant vinaigrette. 52 W. Illinois St., 312-222-1888, rpmitalian.com

deerfield Bobby’s Deerfield I’m partial to their Chicken Salad, with juicy chunks of pulled, roasted chicken marinated with yogurt and tossed with cucumbers, carrots, peas and fresh dill.

695 Deerfield Rd., 847-607-9104, bobbysdeerfield.com

evanston Found Kitchen and Social House Their Baby Carrot and Beet Salad with house-made yogurt cheese and baby greens makes me remember what I used to like about beets salads. Thank you for not putting goat cheese and walnuts in it.

1631 Chicago Ave., 847868-8945, foundkitchen.com

The Noodle Small Plates & Market

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Taco Diablo I am craving this salad weekly: Greens with black beans, carne asada (or grilled chipotle shrimp), corn, zucchini, sweet cherry tomatoes and cilantro ranch dressing. 1029 Davis St., 847-8688229, tacodiabloevanston.com

highland park Nieto’s I am really digging their Lobster Cobb with hard-boiled egg, tomato, avocado, Roquefort cheese and Dijon mustard vinaigrette.

429 Temple Ave., 847-432-0770, nietosrestaurant.com Royce Try their Artichokes & Truffle Salad (with spicy arugula and pinenuts, all drizzled with truffle vinaigrette) but be sure to add the grilled skirt steak. That’s good eatin’.

1850 2nd St., 847-433-8600, roycerestaurant.com

lake forest Market House on the Square This salad tastes just like summer—Scallop ceviche with heirloom tomatoes, fresh corn, red peppers, red onions, cilantro, tortilla strips and grilled lime. 655 Forest Ave., 847-234-8800, themarkethouse.com

northbrook Prairie Grass Café Vegetarian heaven—Chopped Greek salad with romaine, red and green peppers, cucumbers, red onion, red wine-herb vinaigrette and baked feta cheese with spicy banana peppers. 601 Skokie Blvd., 847-2054433, prairiegrasscafe.com Zodiac Restaurant at Neiman-Marcus When my mom’s in town, we always stop here: Grilled Lemon Shrimp with hearts of romaine, quinoa, feta cheese, grilled asparagus, toasted almonds and citrus vinaigrette. 5000 Northbrook Ct., 847-509-6750, neimanmarcus.com

PHOTO BY NATHANIEL PERRY

BY JULIE CHERNOFF

So, I’ve been dieting. What else is new? But no plain cottage cheese and pineapple for me! I’ve revisited many new restaurants (and a few old favorites) to find the one great salad that I am craving. And they are out there, my friends.

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skokie Libertad A classic with a twist, their Peras salad is delish: Asian pears, Cabrales cheese, candied pecans, arugula and balsamic vinaigrette. 7931 Lincoln Ave., 847-674-8100, libertad7931.com

wheeling Saranello’s Try the Wood-Roasted Salmon salad with red and yellow beets and green beans on a bed of mesclun. Ask for the mustard vinaigrette. 601 N. Milwaukee Ave., 847-7776878, saranellos.com

wilmette Gilson’s Go with the Big Chopped Salad, but trust me… the half salad is enough! Loaded with ham, turkey, Swiss and Fontina cheeses, bacon, veggies, homemade croutons, and of course, ranch dressing on the side. 1126 Central Ave., 847-256-2430, gilsonsofwilmette.com The Noodle Small Plates & Market I find their Smoked Salmon Salad with mesclun greens, fresh fennel and crispy capers to be refreshing and light, yet yummy.

1156 Wilmette Ave., 847-251-1133, thenoodlecafe.com

winnetka Avli Estiatorio I love their Lentil Salad with Baby Spinach, and I always order it with their lush grilled salmon on top, which I cut into little pieces and parse out amongst the lentils. Food of the (Greek) gods! 566 Chestnut St., 847446-9300, avli.us Trifecta Grill Sure, it’s a Caesar Salad, but here it’s called a “Romaine Bundle,” because they tuck the leaves through a perfect hole in a huge Texas toast crouton. Great presentation! 501 Chestnut St., 847-441-1700, trifectagrillwinnetka.com

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e n t e rta i nm e n t

Big Fish Opens April 2 Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago 800-775-2000 | broadwayinchicago.com Dipping its toes on the shore of Lake Michigan, this musical based on the much-beloved book and film makes its pre-Broadway world premiere this month.

Think you can dream big? This is the musical to dare you to do it.

BANK OF AMERICA THEATRE Book of Mormon Ongoing 800-775-2000 broadwayinchicago.com

Head of Passes Opens April 4 Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago | 312-335-1650 | Steppenwolf.org Another world premiere, from Ensemble members Tarell Alvin McCraney and Tina Landau—a dark family secret sits at the mouth of the Mississippi River. Don’t you want to know what it is?

CHICAGO CHILDREN’S THEATRE The Elephant & The Whale Opens April 10 773-227-0180 chicagochildrenstheatre.org CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER Othello: The Remix Through April 28 312-595-5600 | chicagoshakes.com GOODMAN THEATRE Measure for Measure Through April 14 312-443-3800 | goodmantheatre.org LIFELINE THEATRE KidSeries: The Emperor’s New Threads Through April 28 773-761-4477 | lifelinetheatre.com NORTHLIGHT THEATRE Stones In His Pockets Through April 14 847-673-6300 | northshorecenter.org REMY BUMPPO THEATRE Creditors Opens April 10 773-404-7336 | remybumppo.org

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all eyes on

chicago B y k e l ly k o n r a d

This month, our fair city is home to multiple world premieres—making us the center of the universe in the theater world.

As we should be—the Chicago area is home to tremendous talent on and off stage. Get your tickets now, so you can tell your NYC friends you’ve already “been there, done that.”

Still Alice Opens April 10 Lookingglass Theatre, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago | 312-337-0665 | lookingglasstheatre.org Lookingglass ensemble member Christine Mary Dunford has adapted, and is directing, another world premiere. Based on the NYT-bestselling book, it’s the story of Professor Alice Howland and the impact of early-onset Alzheimer’s.

The Happiest Song Plays Last Opens April 13 Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago | 312-443-3800 | goodmantheatre.org Still another world premiere—this one the story of personal conflict and the possibility of hope amid crumbling communities, both in the States and abroad.

Yellow Moon Opens April 16 Writers’ Theatre, 664 Vernon Ave., Glencoe 847-242-6000 | writerstheatre.org Directed by Associate Artistic Director Stuart Carden, two teens lost to themselves find each other one night, and are flung together when tragedy strikes. The theater’s intimate setting promises to plunge you into the action as well.

The Exonerated Opens April 19 Next Theatre (performed at Josephine Louis Theatre, 20 Arts Circle Dr., Evanston) | 847475-1875 | nexttheatre.org Once you’ve been jailed, can you ever be free?

This exciting collaboration is between Next Theatre and the Theatre and Interpretation Center (TIC) at Northwestern University.

Audiences meet six former Death Row inmates whose convictions are reversed.

Photo courtesy of oriental theatre

CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE Catch Me If You Can April 2 – 14 800-775-2000 broadwayinchicago.com

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e n t e rta i nm e n t

Va l s l i s t

book list

music to make you move

books that thrill

by va l h a l l e r

We KNOW what to do, but fitting in fitness is the hard part. We know the tricks: putå your running clothes on when you first step out of bed, or schedule a workout with a friend or pre-pay for that yoga class. But when even that doesn’t get it done, here’s something easier. Grab your iPod or your phone—wherever your music is stored—and press PLAY. Music is a visceral tool. You feel it. And there’s a type of music for anything you want to do. Here are some examples and what they are perfect for: Moving Music by DJANGO DJANGO is fastpaced, pump-up electronic sound.

Relaxing Music by ULTRAISTA is a dreamy blend of quiet pop-electronica.

Pushing Yourself Music by GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS is upbeat.

Healing Music by PETER BRADLEY ADAMS has poignant singer/songwriter’s sound.

Celebrating Music by the SHOUT OUT LOUDS is absolute dance music.

Pampering Music by ROSE COUSINS provides thoughtful lyrics and a gorgeous voice .

Feeding Your Mind Music by ALT-J is alternative at its best.

Calming Music by JUNIP is flowing, moody, rhythmic.

b y k e l ly k o n r a d

Think books are just for relaxation? Think again—thrillers are just the genre for anyone who likes a little excitement between the pages. We’ve got a few recommendations that are sure to get your heart pounding: Dante’s Wood Lynne Raimondo | Seventh Street Books, $11 From one of the North Shore’s own—get in on the ground floor of the Mark Angelotti series.

You won’t be able to put it down.

Caravan of Thieves David Rich Dutton, $10 The latest from a former Chicagoan, serving up thrills on par with a Baldacci or Clancy.

Rich’s Rollie Waters knows how to work it from all sides—but does he get away with the money?

The Shining Stephen King Knopf Doubleday, $8 King=classic thrillers. If you believe in the adage that books are always better than the movie, then why haven’t you read this yet?

Inferno Dan Brown Knopf Doubleday, $18 For your summer reading list—Brown’s latest adventure with Robert Langdon is due in May. This time, the professor is taking on the Dante masterpiece.

just one book.

Killing Floor Lee Child Penguin, $10 The first in the famous Jack Reacher series— gruesome and gritty, you’ll be hooked after

A Killing in the Hills Julia Keller St. Martin’s Press, $15 This Pulitzer-winning journalist is flexing her fiction muscle with a debut novel about killings in a small West Virginia town and the motherdaughter duo that set out to solve the crime.

Dark Places Gillian Flynn Crown, $11 If you liked last summer’s “Gone Girl,” then you shouldn’t miss Flynn’s sophomore effort. Libby Day’s family was massacred and her brother was blamed—but did he really do it?

Before I Go To Sleep S.J. Watson Harper Collins, $10 Woman loses memory.

Husband says he still loves her. Woman doesn’t know husband.

Is he out to hurt or help? This isn’t “The Vow,” people.

Want more recommendations?

You can read more of Kelly’s reviews at chicagonow.com/litzyditz.

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M A K E A DI FFE R E NCE

MENTOR STUDENTS AT URBAN INITIATIVES  Urban Initiatives 312-715-1763 | urbaninitiatives.org Urban Initiatives volunteers are essential to the success of the Work to Play Program.

Volunteers work directly with the students as assistant coaches and mentors. Generally, volunteers serve at a school and commit to at least one hour per week for an eight-week season. To volunteer and learn about the program schedules, please email erica.heidrich@urbaninitiatives.org.

AND LISA ZIMBLER

DONATE ITEMS FOR TROOPS OVERSEAS Operation Support Our Troops (OSOT) 847-251-0615 | osotamerica.org OSOT is an all-volunteer organization that organizes collection drives, stocks the warehouse, sorts and packs boxes, and sends not-easily-obtained items to our troops abroad. You can help by purchasing the needed items listed on their website, and dropping them in the collection boxes throughout Wilmette. Examples of needed items include peanut butter, jelly, individual cold drink packets (Gatorade, Propel, etc.), cans of ground coffee, lip balm/Chapstick and OTC cold medications. Drop box locations in Wilmette are listed on the website, or email paulee6@att.net.

PROVIDE MEALS FOR THE HOMELESS Connections for the Homeless 847-424-0945 | cfthinc.org Connections for the Homeless provides housing, employment and supportive services to move individuals and families out of homelessness. As a part of their Entry Point program, the organization hands out approximately 30-40 sack lunches

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TRANSITION WOMEN OUT OF HOMELESSNESS Housing Opportunities for Women (HOW) 773-465-5770 | how-inc.org Last year, HOW gave 1,491 women, children and families the chance to create a brighter future through their prevention efforts, career services and supportive housing. Volunteer with HOW to provide career planning, education and training, child and youth programs, administrative assistance, research, maintenance and home beautification, fund development and communication.

each day, Monday-Thursday. Volunteers in the community provide the groceries, assemble the lunches and drop them off at the shelter, located in the basement of Lake Street Church in Evanston. The sack lunches usually include a sandwich, fruit, chips and a drink. Please drop lunch donations off any evening between 6-9 p.m. or before 10 a.m. Monday-Thursday at 1458 Chicago Ave., Evanston.

HELP NEW MOTHERS IN NEED Junior League of Evanston-North Shore Baby Steps Project 773-451-6196 | jle-ns.org Junior League of Evanston will be hosting fifteen at-risk or in-need mothers and their children at an informational baby shower in April where they will receive an assortment of essentials for their newborn child as well as hear from speakers on various educational topics including postpartum depression, lactation and feeding essentials. Donate a gift through the registry set up on Target.com (search under the first name Junior League; second name, Baby Steps) or monetary donations may be sent through the website or mailed by check to JLE-NS.

PHOTO COURTESY OF URBAN INITIATIVES

BY SANDRA A. MILLER

MAKE POPCORN DAYS POP Lambs Farm 847-362-3646 | lambsfarm.org Lambs Farm’s 5th Annual Popcorn Days fundraising event is scheduled for April 19 - 20. Proceeds help people with developmental disabilities lead productive, happy lives through the many services offered at Lambs Farm. Volunteers are needed to stand at more than 50 storefronts, or at street intersections collecting donations and handing out bags of popcorn, courtesy of The Popcorn Factory. Volunteers work a 3-4 hour shift. This is a great chance to get involved with Lambs Farm and it doesn’t cost a thing—just a few hours of your time.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF FAMILY NETWORK

AID STROKE VICTIMS Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp 847-255-1444 | strokecamp.org Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp offers scholarships to those devastated by stroke who are unable to afford the 3-day event. Camps provide an opportunity to raise public awareness, provide education, relaxation, socialization and support.

Donate through purchasing bulbs for your spring garden through flowerpowerfundraising.com and 50% of your order will go directly to the organization. Shipping is only $5 and all plants are 100% guaranteed.

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SUPPORT THE ARTS Joffrey Ballet 312-739-0120 | joffrey.org The Joffrey Ballet presents world-class ballet, dance education and community outreach. The remarkable quality of the Joffrey comes at a cost, and ticket sales cover less than half of the operating expenses. Every dollar donated to the Joffrey goes toward continuing this tremendous legacy and ensuring the future success of the company.

To donate, please visit their website.

ď ° DONATE TO NEEDY FAMILIES Family Network 847-433-0377 | familynetworkcenter.org The mission of Family Network is to promote the well-being of children by supporting and strengthening families. Over 75% of the families served are low income or living below the poverty line. Funding support is needed to provide scholarships for early childhood and parent programming, along with after-school care for children of working parents. Services are also provided to Spanish-speaking families, including prenatal classes, home visits, early childhood and school-based offerings, ESL and GED classes, health, fitness and nutrition programs, and family and financial literacy classes. Donations may be sent to Family Network, 330 Laurel Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035.

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M A K E A DI FFE R E NCE

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OVER THE RAINBOW ASSOCIATION

Celebration Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University December 1, 2012 $420,000 raised (SHOWN IN PHOTOS):

Keith Harris of Oak Park, board chairman; Nancy Gustafson of Evanston, event chair

Make It Better was the media sponsor of this event

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PHOTOS BY JOHN KIM PHOTOGRAPHY

(1) Performer Mandy Patinkin of New York; (2) Nick Anaclerio of Winnetka, Cliff and Lori Berman of Lincolnwood and Beth Anaclerio of Winnetka; (3) Matt Howard of Aurora, Tara Moran of Glenview, Eric Huffman of Palatine and Matt Soden of Wilmette; (5) Impact: Tony Graves, Over the Rainbow resident in Evanston, shoots baskets; (4) Ryan, Ann-Marie, Haley and Jim Streibich of Wilmette.

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URBAN INITIATIVES

Soccer Ball

River East Art Center January 25, 2013 $300,000 raised

PHOTOS BY APRIL LILLSTROM

(SHOWN IN PHOTOS)

(1) Chris Girgenti, Victoria Willer, ME Girgenti and Kevin Willer, all of Wilmette; (2) Bill Bustin and Rose Phinick of Chicago; (3) Jaime Hitch and Tania Covarrubias, both of Chicago; (4) Impact: Urban Initiatives kids in Cabrini Green host their first home soccer game at Jenner Academy of the Arts.

Ron Redd of Chicago, Board Chair; Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago, Event Chair

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EVANSTON DANCE ENSEMBLE

IMP ACT

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Get Your Tutu On! The Fancy Dance 2013

February 2, 2013 Maggiano’s Little Italy, Skokie $35,000 raised

(1) Impact: Cassie Easter of Evanston performs at Louis Theater at Northwestern University. (2) Kerri Daniels and Liz Kidera of Evanston; (3) Jenny and Joe Higgins of Wilmette; (4) Ronda Abrams and Karl Peters of Evanston, Charlotte Walsh of Winnetka, Faye Jacobs of Wilmette, Kevin Biolsi and Carol Navin of Evanston, Laura Lundin of Chicago, Christina Ernst, Julie Chernoff and Béa Rashid of Evanston, and Jenny Higgins of Wilmette.

Julie Chernoff of Evanston, Board Chair; Kerri Daniels and Liz Kidera of Evanston, Event Chairs

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IMPACT PHOTO BY MATT GLAVIN, BENEFIT PHOTOS BY LAURIE VIETS

(SHOWN IN PHOTOS):

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INFANT WELFARE SOCIETY OF EVANSTON

Warm Your Palate Now We’re Cookin’, Evanston February 28, 2013 $34,000 raised

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IMPACT PHOTO BY MATT GLAVIN, BENEFIT PHOTOS BY LAURIE VIETS

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SHOWN IN PHOTOS): (1) Tracy Corr of Wilmette; (2) Molly Veneziano, Patrick Corr and Amy Corr, all of Wilmette; (3) Impact: IWSE provides high-quality early childhood education and support services for teen parents and low-income families with young children in Evanston and surrounding communities.

(4) Stacey Cohen and Shelley Keller, both of Winnetka; (5) Richard and Maryjane Mentzinger of Lake Forest; Kara Sokol of Evanston, board president; Carolyn Mattox of Evanston and Ann Mommsen of Winnetka, event chairs

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WINTERFEST

Hosted by A. Perry Homes of Winnetka and Libertyville, benefitting Northwestern Settlement

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Libertyville residence of Tony Perry January 26, 2013

(SHOWN IN PHOTOS): (1) Scott Mullenbach and kids of Northfield; (2) Tony Perry of Libertyville and Blackhawksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; national anthem singer Jim Cornelison of Chicago; (3) Donetta Perry, Linda Martin and Denise Kellar of Winnetka; (4) Tom and Viki Rivkin of Wilmette; (5) Impact: Children from the Head Start extended day program at Northwestern Settlement with new winter gear.

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PHOTO <CREDIT>

600 articles of winter wear collected for Northwestern Settlement in the West Town neighborhood in Chicago

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m a k e a di ffe r e nce | local treasure

jump for joy

with evanston dance ensemble

Everyone deserves a chance to

dance. And with Jump for Joy, everyone gets one.

You’d expect a dance company like the Evanston Dance Ensemble (EDE) to be experts in their field, and they are. But it’s their love for dance—and that of their students—that has created a magical program for children with special needs.

Jump For Joy is a free program that pairs children with disabilities with EDE’s advanced teen dancers.

The talented teens, help special needs children, ages 5–14, dance with remarkable levels of structure, creativity and self-expression.

Seven weeks of classes culminate with a final performance that is a highlight for everyone involved.

The children develop new skills and confidence, as well as new friends. Their parents, who spend seven weeks visiting together outside the dance studios, form new friendships and unofficial support circles, too. Some of the children even “graduate” into regu-

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lar dance classes at Dance Center Evanston, home base for EDE. This free program is a winner for all connected to it. A win for special needs children, their parents, and the EDE teen dancers. And a win for our community—free programming that offers residents inclusive opportunities and the ability to feel a sense of belonging where they live.

“It’s just as beneficial for the teens doing the teaching as it is for the class,” explains Jump For Joy faculty mentor Jenny Higgins. “We talk about the program and cry. When the time comes for the final performance, you feel so joyful.”

Ensemble dancer Julia DeNardo started Jump For Joy in 2007 as her Evanston Township High School senior project. DeNardo is now at Northwestern University, but the program continued at EDE, and is so successful that a second class was added. DeNardo still returns for performances when her schedule permits.

Photo by Matt Glavin

by susan b . noye s

makeitbetter.net

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speci a l a dv e rt isi ng sect ion

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CLOSI NG T HOUGH TS

Thanks to our readers on Facebook who shared these inspirational quotes with us.

Suck it up or else you’ll have to suck it in!

Melissa Pas Blake, Sarah Bledsoe, Laura Hine, Susan Hendricks Duffey, Steph Hochstetler, Eleanor Lipinski, Lisa Hegyi Zimbler

You’re only one workout away from a good mood.

If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got.

“He can who thinks he can, and he can’t who thinks he can’t. This is an inexorable, indisputable law.”

No matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping everyone sitting on the couch.

Summer bodies are earned in the winter!

Strong is what happens when you run out of weak.

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you never regret a GREAT workout

“It’s never too late to become what you might have been.”

PICASSO DRAWING COURTESY OF THE ART INSTITUTE

—PABLO PICASSO

—GEORGE ELIOT

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