Make It Better April 2014

april 2014

the

how-to issue choose an app | use craigslist | launch a product | wear spring colors rave about a business | divorce-proof your finances | buy artwork

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the happY BlueS Turn to page 44

april 2014 • volume 5, iSSue 6

44

31

Small ScreenS, Big ideaS

By Julie Chernoff, Laura Hine, Melanie Kalmar and Susan Pasternak

Fear no art: gallerieS are Your FriendS

By Elysabeth Alfano

gourmet getawaYS

By Andrea Guthmann

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daYtripper: roSemont

By Laura Hine

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april 2014

By Tate Gunnerson

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the happY BlueS

how to get the look: Spring 2014 FaShion & color trendS

By Erin Boyle

on our cover Making a Pie at Hoosier Mama Pie Company in Evanston Photo by Britt Anderson

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DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

DEPARTMENTS FAMILY

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HOW TO TALK WITH YOUR KIDS ABOUT SEXTING

By Shannan Younger

A BETTER YOU

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HOW AND WHY YOU SHOULD ORGANIZE YOUR CLOSET NOW

By Laura Hine

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HOW-TO DIVORCEPROOF YOUR FINANCES

By Meghan Streit

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 SPRING 2014 BEAUTY TRENDS

By Jenny Muslin

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SPRING CLEAN YOUR RELATIONSHIP

By Marjie Killeen

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HOOSIER MAMA EVANSTON IS PIE PERFECTION

By Julie Chernoff

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A HOW-TO BOOK FOR EVERYTHING

By Kelly Konrad

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SPRING FORWARD WITH APRIL THEATER

By Robert Loerzel

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

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BETTER MAKERS AND THEIR IMPACT

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STEP UP FOR KIDS OF LURIE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

By Coco Keevan and Susan B. Noyes

IN EVERY ISSUE 16 | EDITOR’S LETTER 20 | YOU SAID IT 22 | NEW IN THE NORTHERN SUBURBS 24 | RECOMMENDED EVENTS 26 | EVENTS LISTING 28 | MAKE IT BETTER COLUMN 71 | MUSIC BY VAL 74 | GIVE TIME, GIVE THINGS, GIVE SUPPORT PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL KORS

82 | CLOSING THOUGHTS

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Editor’s lEt tEr

Show Me how

By JuliE ChErnoff

So much to do, so little time.

ThaT’s how I feel now that I’m back at work. Don’t get me wrong; I love my job. But what I really need now is a personal assistant, someone to help me simplify my life and make the most of the free time I have. How can I possibly figure out how to do it all?

But wait! In these pages, we hope to answer that question and more. Want to know the best local apps to make your life easier (or at least more fun)? Read Laura Hine’s roundup on pg. 32. Don’t want to play restaurant roulette? Check out Raved, a crowdsourcing app that focuses on the positive (pg. 36).

Is your house filled with clutter? Susan Pasternak shares her Craigslist secrets (pg. 35), while Laura Hine explains (pg. 48) how and why you should organize your closet.

Have an interest in art and wall space to spare, but don’t quite know where to start? Fear No Art’s Elysabeth Alfano talks you down to earth (pg. 36).

Wondering what’s au courant this spring? Erin Boyle and Jenny Muslin share the 2014 spring trends in fashion and beauty starting on pg. 54. Armed with that knowledge, you can hit up the Fashion Outlet Mall in Rosemont (we give you the skinny on just where to shop on pg. 50).

Our favorite Lizty Ditz, Kelly Konrad, has lots of great “HowTo Books” to recommend (pg. 68) and Val Haller makes music easy and attainable (pg. 69).

Make It Better is always looking out for our readers. We learn from you, and you learn from us; it’s a symbiotic relationship. So if you’re like me, and you need a little help now and then to organize your thoughts and focus your direction, we are right there with you.

Let us show you how!

Happy spring!

money raised for not-for-profit organizations: $3,009,451

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ONLINE

OUR BETTER HALF IS ONLINE

pinspiration

download & win!

Our followers can’t get enough of these pins. Follow Make It Better on Pinterest to repin your faves and read more.

Download this issue for free on your iPad and enter to win one of three $50 gift certificates to Oceanique in Evanston. While you’re there, enjoy the exclusive content and extended features only available in the iPad edition.

 PINTEREST.COM/MAKEITBETTERMAG

 MAKEITBETTER.NET/IPAD

5 chicago blogs to follow There’s a lot going on in Chicago and on the North Shore: new restaurants, new stores and new events. Luckily, the Second City is filled with awesome bloggers who are sharing their favorites in fashion, food and fitness so you’ll always be in the know. Find our five faves at  MAKEITBETTER.NET/CHIBLOGS

what’s hot on makeitbetter.net: FOOD & DRINK

Mariano’s Opens First North Shore Location

Avoid matchy-matchy outfits this spring and layer interesting pieces for a fun, vibrant look!

BEAUTIFUL HOME

Tricks of the Trade: Master the Gender-Neutral Bedroom BOOKS

Family Book Clubs Strengthen Reading Skills and Relationships FASHION & BEAUTY

Cure Your Wardrobe Blahs with Easy Fashion Fixes HEALTH & WELLNESS

How to Talk to Your Child About an Eating Disorder

sign up for our better letter:

Announcing our #SoundOfMusic Pin to Win ticket giveaway! Follow the instructions to enter to win 4 tix to see it @Lyric Opera of Chicago! #LyricSound

Up-to-the-minute tips, trends and things to do!

THE SUNDAY LETTER

THE WEDNESDAY LETTER

Full of articles to make your life easier and better. Articles will cover topics such as: family home health recipes education

Focus on fun for the weekend!

Articles will cover topics such as: where to go new restaurants to try what’s happening in the northern suburbs and Chicago quick & easy ways to make a difference fashion & beauty

 MAKEITBETTER.NET/BETTER-LETTER

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Healthy breakfast cookies—perfect for kids on the go!

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Win tickets to see “The Sound of Music” at Lyric Opera of Chicago!

The beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is an iconic piece of American theater perfect for children, teens, parents and grandparents alike. To celebrate its return to our favorite city, we are proud to announce that the Lyric has teamed up with Make It Better to present the “Sound of Music Sing-to-Win Ticket Giveaway.” Here’s how you can win free tickets in the upcoming weeks:

Post a video to Instagram, Twitter or Vine.

Warm up your vocal chords, because it’s time to channel your inner Julie Andrews!

To win four free tickets to “The Sound of Music,” upload a quick video of yourself or your child, spouse or friend singing a favorite “Sound of Music” song to Instagram, Twitter or Vine. (Have fun with it...the sillier the better!) Use the hashtag #LyricSound, and tag @MakeItBetterNS and @LyricOpera on Twitter and Instagram.

Winners will be chosen leading up to the show. Ready, set, sing!

Answer questions and trivia on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

Not quite ready to share your voice with the North Shore? Make It Better will also be giving away multiple sets of free tickets through Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

To win, make sure to follow us on all three social media sites. All you’ll need to do to enter to win is answer a simple question about “The Sound of Music” and other favorite musicals.

Pin to win!

Join our Pinterest Scavenger Hunt challenge to enter to win four tickets to the show. Follow Make It Better on Pinterest (pinterest.com/makeitbettermag), and follow the instructions on our “#LyricSound Favorite Things” board. Winners will be selected through the end of April. Good luck!

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We love to hear from you, so please keep sending us your stories, comments, opinions, ideas and revieWs! facebook

tWitter

facebook.com/ makeitbetter.net

@makeitbetterNS

email

online

susan@makeitbetter.net

makeitbetter.net

Thanks for all the emails, letters, tweets and Facebook messages this month! Here’s what you had to say: in response to: “is monogamy realistic? an intervieW With felloW sex columnist dan savage”

To Whom It May Concern: In the past I have been excited to see your magazine in my pile of mail, as much of my mail these days is junk. I love your book reviews, your restaurant reviews, and your “Best Of” issues. I especially love the “Give Time, Give Things, Give Support” suggestions. As a mother of four, I find your family- and kid-centered articles fabulous and relevant and I thoroughly enjoy them. These articles share, inform, and entertain and highlight all the things that make the North Shore “better.”

However, your “Sex & the Suburbs” articles have been casting a shallow, low-class shadow over all the good you attempt to share. And, I have to say that this month’s [column] takes readers to an all-time low.

Ms. Killeen wanted to “spur dialogue” by sharing this article, but it seems more fitting that a subject like cheating should be reserved for the likes of Cosmo magazine.

All those college students who attend Mr. Savage’s lectures can read it and be enlightened. The North Shore is smarter and better than that.

As for myself, I am a bit saddened that Make It Better chooses to publish a sex column that is not making anyone better. Frankly, we’d be better without it.

— Jennifer Caparos, Northbrook editor in chief’s response:

Jennifer, we appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns about Marjie Killeen’s recent interview with Dan Savage (February 2014).

As always, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and certainly it is neither Ms. Killeen’s nor Make it Better’s intention to in any way glorify or condone cheating within marriage. And whether or not we agree with Mr. Savage’s opinions is not the point of the article. We are simply presenting another point of view, one worth discussing. As for our Sex & the Suburbs column, there are many people who enjoy reading it, and we hear from them, too. Apparently, it makes many people’s lives better, and that’s great. As such, we have every intention on continuing to publish Ms. Killeen’s insights on relationships.

—Julie Chernoff

Matthew Sudman @MattSudman Thank you @makeitbetterNS for this great article and video about @NUSettlement! http://www.makeitbetter.net/make-a-difference/make-a-difference/59052013-philanthropy-awards-northwestern-university-settlement-house Brian Saber @BrianSaber Congrats to my client @NUSettlement on their @makeitbetterNS Philanthropy Award http://ow.ly/u4XM8 #fundraising #nonprofit Teresa Marie @ChiMasterGrdnr Congratulations!!! @gpconservatory wins award for Fleurotica from @makeitbetterNS check out the video here: http://bit.ly/1bN9YxI

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588 Lincoln Ave. Winnetka, IL, 60093 | 847-256-4642 Founder & CEO Susan B. Noyes Editor In Chief Digital Editor Assistant Editor Foundation Editor

Julie Chernoff Lindsay Roseman Anna Carlson Coco Keevan

Art Director Sarah Philippart Designer Lesley Smith Dining Editor Fashion Editor Finance Editor Fitness Editor Home Editor Senior Living Editor Sex & the Suburbs Editor

Julie Chernoff Evangeline Politis Meghan Streit Christy Coughlin Tate Gunnerson Stuart Greenblatt Marjie Killeen

Contributing Writers Elysabeth Alfano Erin Boyle Andrea Guthmann Laura Hine Kelly Konrad Melanie Kalmar Robert Loerzel Jenny Muslin Susan Pasternak Shannan Younger Photographers Britt Anderson Eric Hausman Publisher Kimberly Carroll Co-Founder & Vice President of Marketing Mindy Fauntleroy Chief Operating Officer Sandy Tsuchida Ad Sales Manager Megan Holbrook Senior Account Executives Patti Augustyn Julie Carter Account Executive Jenny Newman Restaurant Account Executive Meredith Kopelman Director of Community Development Denise Borkowski Director of the Tech Mamma Lounge Katy Nielsen Got feedback? Email susan@makeitbetter.net to advertise: Contact megan@makeitbetter.net Have an event? Email anna@makeitbetter.net

Make It Better North Shore (ISSN No. 2151-0431) is published 12 times per year by Make It Better LLC, 588 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka, IL 60093. Phone: 847.256.4642. Copyright 2014 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, 588 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka, IL 60093.

Make It Better is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Copyright 2014 by Make It Better LLC. All rights reserved.

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FRESH

BY JULIE CHERNOFF AND ANNA CARLSON

Workout Like the Stars

Step Up Your Style

Tria is a shoe-lover’s paradise. This 5,000-square-foot boutique, which opened last month, houses shoes, handbags and jewelry from more than 60 designers, including Armani, Lauren Harper, Jerome C. Rousseau, Kate Spade, Stuart Weitzman and Jason Wu. Co-owners Jody Strauss-Figura and Tony Patel and buyer/sales manager David Sugg have more than 50 years of combined experience in the business. Jody says the team is committed to providing exceptional customer service and a selection that appeals to a wide range of ages and styles. TRIA BOUTIQUE: 720 N. Waukegan Road, Deerfield, 847-987-8080, shoptria.com —AC

It’s impossible not to break a sweat at The Studio Powered

by Lagree, which opened in February. This high-intensity 50-minute workout takes Pilates to the next level and is a favorite among celebrities, including Courtney Cox, Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Kidman. The studio’s Megaformer™ machines push you to exhaustion while strengthening your core, increasing muscle flexibility and elasticity, and toning and conditioning your entire body. Single classes start at $35, and private and semi-private sessions are also available. Beginners are recommended to start with two or three classes per week.

THE STUDIO POWERED BY LAGREE: 593 Elm Pl., Highland Park, 847-433-8658, thestudiopoweredbylagree.com —AC

Feel the Love

Mariano’s has opened its doors in Northfield and the North Shore has welcomed it with open arms to fill the void left by Dominick’s sad departure. Once you make your way in to the crowded parking lot and store, you might never want to leave.

Grab a smoothie from The Juice Bar (or perhaps a latté or house-made gelato at Vero Coffee Bar) and wander over to the bakery and watch them make art with frosting.

Then head over to the well-stocked seafood and meat counters to see the butchers and fishmongers in action. Kids will love the fresh caramel apples and popcorn cart. It’s more than a shopping experience; it’s a party. MARIANO’S: 1822 Willow Rd., Northfield, 847-446-6870, marianos.com —JC

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APRIL 2014

m I’ll Have Fries with That

Evanston welcomes DMK Burger & Fish, the newest of David Morton and Michael Kornick’s popular DMK restaurants.

Located dangerously close to the Northwestern campus (perfect for either study-break or munchies situations), you’ll find “On a Bun” options like the #1 (grass-fed beef patty, aged cheddar, smoked bacon, charred balsamic onions and BBQ sauce) or the Crabby Patty (crab cake with old bay mayo, lettuce, tomato and onion). Gotta have some wings or a salad? No problem. Just save room for the perfect fries with Parmesan and truffle cream, or the sweet potato fries with lemon-Tabasco aioli… and a thick, frosty shake, too. You know what? Just come hungry. DMK BURGER & FISH: 815 Noyes St., Evanston, dmkrestaurants.com —JC

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Make It Better Foundation invites you to walk the orange carpet and join our

April 30, 2014 | 5:30 pm Chase Tower Auditorium 10 S. Dearborn St. | Plaza Level Chicago, IL

RSVP mibawards2014.eventbrite.com Complimentary registration with a donation to our philanthropy award winners.

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EvEnts

r E c o M M E n d E d

by anna carlson

The Art of Simple Food: Alice Waters Conversation with Ruth Reichl  10 in April 10 | The Art Institute of Chicago, 159 E. Monroe St., Chicago | chicagohumanities.org as part of the chicago humanities Festival, restaurateur alice waters and food writer ruth reichl will discuss culinary culture, waters’ newest cookbook “the art of simple Food ii” and the Edible schoolyard project.

Apr

North Shore Baconfest April 26 | Wagner Farm, 1510 Wagner Rd., Glenview | glenviewparks.org local chefs will serve their most creative (and delicious!) bacon creations while you enjoy live music and browse bacon-related merchandise. need we say more?

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Film Screening: “Finding Vivian Maier” April 4 | Century Centre, 2828 N. Clark St., Chicago vivianmaier.com during the 1970s, vivian Maier was a nanny on the north shore. she was also, secretly, a photographer. this talent wouldn’t be discovered, however, until years after her death.

“Finding vivian Maier” was a selection at multiple film festivals around the world.

Apr

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Something to Wine About™ Hosted by Laurie AKA the Stand-Up Sommelier™ 4 Forster April 4 | City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago citywinery.com this is a tasting with a twist. comedian and award-winning sommelier laurie Forster will discuss your favorite drink while adding her hilarious take on each. Just make sure you don’t spill as you laugh.

Apr

metropolTROT 6 | Downtown Arlington Heights, corner of High6 April land and Campbell | metropolisarts.com who says running isn’t fun? dress up as your favorite stage, movie or tv character for this 5K or 10K run, or the mile-long family walk. proceeds will benefit the Metropolis art centre’s arts education and theater programming.

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Antiques & Garden Fair 11-13 | Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook 11 April Rd., Glencoe | chicagobotanic.org need inspiration for your own yard? walk through display gardens, talk to merchants from around the world, and sit in on lectures about design and entertaining. you can also take a look before anyone else at the preview event april 10.

Apr

Race to Wrigley 5K Charity Run 12 | Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison St., Chicago | 12 April race-cubs.com wrigley Field is hosting all sorts of events in its 100th season, but this race isn’t new. the 9th annual race to wrigley 5K gives runners a chance to support cubs charities with the entire family—there is no age requirement.

Apr

alicE watErs photo by GillEs MinGasson

editor’s pick

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Bach Week Festival 2014 Begins April 25 | Various locations | bachweek.org in its 41st year, the bach week festival will highlight johann sebastian bach’s best works, and even a few that have never been performed at this series. four concerts will take place in chicago and evanston with musicians from the chicago symphony orchestra, lyric opera of chicago orchestra and other ensembles from around the country.

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Spring Egg-Stravaganza 12 April 12 | Soldier Field, 1410 Museum Campus Dr., Chicago | soldierfield.net take your easter egg hunt up a notch. families can enjoy face painters, inflatables and balloon artists before taking part in the largest candy grab in chicago.

bach week photo by jesse weiner; nu lacrosse photo by of stephen j. carerra; shoe photo courtesy of stuart weitzman

Apr

Shop for a Cause at Weitzman  16 Stuart April 16 Northbrook Court, 2171 Northbrook Court, Northbrook | northbrookcourt.com buy a pair of gorgeous shoes and do some good at the same time. fifteen percent of the evening’s proceeds will benefit the julie w. schaffner ovarian cancer research fund at advocate lutheran General hospital. registration is required. rsVp to megan@makeitbetter.net. make it better is a sponsor of this event.

Apr

Chicago Fire and Chicago Red Doubleheader | April 19 19 Stars Toyota Park, 7000 Harlem Ave., Bridgeview | chicagoredstars.com or chicago-fire.com spend your saturday cheering on chicago’s men’s and women’s soccer teams. the fire will take on the new england revolution before the red stars compete against abby wambach and the western new york flash.

Apr

Northwestern Women’s at Wrigley Field  26 Lacrosse April 26 | Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison St., Chicago | nusports.com play ball—er, lacrosse! if you’ve never seen northwestern’s women’s lacrosse team in action, this game against usc is the perfect time to introduce yourself.

The Real Vodou: A Haitian 27 Classical Music Concert April 27 | Wilmette Public Library, 1242 Wilmette Ave., Wilmette | wilmettelibrary.info to celebrate the 2014 one book selection, “claire of the sea light,” crossing borders music collective will present a concert with works by haitian composers and take a look at the haitian Vodou that inspired them.

Apr

The Joffrey Ballet Presents “Romeo & Juliet” Begins April 30 | The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago | joffrey.org shakespeare’s classic play has been recreated too many times to count, but you’ve probably never seen it quite like this contemporary version created by polish choreographer krzysztof pastor. this is the first time pastor’s work will be seen in chicago.

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events

April HigHligHts

By AnnA CArlson

OngOing

Chicago Improv Festival Various locations chicagoimprovfestival.org The Diary of Anne Frank Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights metropolisarts.com Eggs to Chicks Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview | kohlchildrensmuseum.org Hidden Wonders Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | adlerplanetarium.org The Left Front: Radical Art in the “Red Decade,” 1929-1940 Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art, 40 Arts Circle Dr., Evanston blockmuseum.northwestern.edu The Machine Inside: Biomechanics The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | fieldmuseum.org Road Show Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago | chicagoshakes.com Schoolhouse Rock Live!

Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire | marriotttheatre.com

Week Of April 1-6

Stuart Little April 3 Center Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie northshorecenter.org Bites & Brews April 3 Wyndham Glenview Suites, 1400 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview | glenviewchamber.com Spring Bunny Trail April 5 Indian Ridge Park, 3323 Walters Ave., Northbrook | nbparks.org

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Week Of April 7-13

Northwestern’s Freshman Fifteen April 10 The Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central Ave., Wilmette | wilmettetheatre.com Old-Fashioned Campfire April 11 Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Rd., Highland Park | pdhp.org UNICEF’s Message of Hope Gala April 11 Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, 120 E. Delaware Pl., Chicago | unicefusa.org Fancy Nancy Tea Party— The Mermaid Ballet April 12 Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights | ahpd.org

Week Of April 14-20

Storm Large of Pink Martini April 16 SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston evanstonspace.com Bunny Bonanza April 19 Mike Rylko Community Park, 1000 N. Buffalo Grove Rd., Buffalo Grove | bgparks.org Easter Egg-Stravaganza April 19 Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago lpzoo.org

Week Of April 21-27

Ingrid Michaelson April 24 Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave., Chicago jamusa.com/riviera-theatre Chicago International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show April 24-28 Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago chicagospringshow.com

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Pinot Days Chicago April 26 Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago pinotdays.com Earth Day Walk April 26 Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe | chicagobotanic.org

April 28-30

The Wizard of Oz Begins April 30 Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago | broadwayinchicago.com Winemaking Class: Wine and Time with Robert Kowal April 30 City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago citywinery.com American Red Cross of the Greater Chicago Region Heroes Breakfast April 30 The Fairmont Chicago, 200 N. Columbus Dr., Chicago | redcross.org Josephinum Academy Spring Luncheon April 30 Michigan Shores Club, 911 Michigan Ave., Wilmette | josephinum.org

sponsored listings

LAUNCH: Driving Fashion Forward Sunday, April 13, 5 P.M. Autohaus on Edens Mercedes Benz Showroom, 1600 W. Frontage Road, Northbrook | 847272-7900 | dogoodersdodah.com the third Annual spring Fashion show featuring designs from north shore’s finest boutiques, including trunk shows to shop accessories and silent and live auctions featuring a priceless trip for two to the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in new York.

Parkinson’s Caregiver Appreciation Luncheon Saturday, April 26, 11:30 A.M. RIC, 755 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook | 312-5034397 | parkinsons.northwestern.edu Caregiver Appreciation Celebration to thank the remarkable, hardworking caregivers of all patients with parkinson’s disease and Movement disorders. this event is held in partnership with the national parkinson Foundation, northwestern University Feinberg school of Medicine, riC, and right at Home.

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make it bet ter column

by susan b . noye s

April is home opener month for three of Chicago’s professional teams: the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Sky and Chicago Red Stars.

These Teams play a more significant role in

our community than you may realize, because the team owners live here and run their franchises with North Shore values. The Chicago Cubs, Chicago Sky and Chicago Red Stars are locally owned family businesses, run with good intentions, great values and substantial giving back.

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Three of the four Ricketts siblings, the Cubs’ owners, are or will soon be raising their families in Wilmette. Although their team’s on-field stats haven’t been much to cheer about, the dramatic growth in Cubs familycentric special events, community outreach and charitable giving under the Ricketts’ care have been an out-of-the-ballpark, grand-slam home run.

Cubs Charities spending has increased 54 percent in the Ricketts era. Last year, this allowed donations of $2.4 million, which provided increased access to sports and better health, fitness and education opportunities for more than 143,000 youth. Those are winning numbers. Furthermore, in honor of Wrigley Field’s 100th birthday this year, Cubs Charities is coordinating “100 Gifts Of Service” by players and associates throughout the year.

This insures greater visibility of role-model behavior worth emulating.

The Chicago Sky, the WNBA team owned

by Winnetka’s Michael Alter, is considerably younger than the Cubs. But they also offer world-class athletes and family entertainment at their Rosemont home games. “People in our area have always appreciated and supported high achievement, and the WNBA is representative of the best of women’s professional sports being played only a few minutes from where we live,” Alter says. “The Sky also provides a fun, safe and positive environment for families to enjoy an outing.”

Elena Della Donne, last season’s Rookie of the Year, is widely considered the best female basketball player on the planet. She is one of the many reasons the Sky made the playoffs last season. Recently appointed as an Ambassador to the Special Olympics, Delle Donne is also emblematic of the team’s commitment to community outreach.

Alter is particular proud of how much the team interacts with fans to make game days great fun. “A variety of interactive, on-court

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in the game,” he says. “Highlights include the ever popular ‘High 5 Tunnel,’ in which players run through and high five the fans as they enter the court, and the ‘Ball Exchange,’ where each player gives a lucky fan their own WNBA ball as part of our team introductions.”

The Chicago Red Stars, our female professional soccer team, is probably the least well-known of the locally owned teams, but it’s also worthy of our support. Owner Arnim Whisler, also of Winnetka, is particularly passionate about providing great role models for girls. “The Red Stars players are at the pinnacle of their sport—Olympic gold medalists, World Cup champions and finalists, collegiate national champions, etc.,” he says. “Imagine being able to bring your entire family and then shake hands and get autographs from a gold medalist—every fan can meet the players after the game.”

According to Whisler, it’s an easy commute to the home games at Benedictine University, where the parking is free. “Some fans think driving to Benedictine is far. I have done the drives to Wrigley, Soldier Field, U.S. Cellular, and the United Center many times. Door-to-door, including parking, I can be in my seat at Benedictine faster from the North Shore than to Wrigley on most game days—but trust me, I still use my season tickets at Wrigley!”

April means spring sports. We’re blessed that these locally owned sports teams are run with such good values.

They provide excellent role models for our kids, inspiration for our own giving back efforts, examples of playing for the love of the game, and great family entertainment just a short drive away.

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B y J u l i e c h e r n o f f, l a u r a h i n e , M e l a n i e K a l M a r a n d S u S a n Pa S t e r n a K

Photo <credit>

We all Want to knoW “how to…,” so we inevitably turn to our small screens (smart phone, tablet or computer) for answers to make our lives simpler, better or more fulfilling.

The options are overwhelming: millions of apps, sites and ideas are available on the web, but where to start?

Maybe you’re looking for an app that can help you find great music or quick tips to make your life easier, or you’d like to support local entrepreneurs. Perhaps you have a great idea for a new product but need help getting it off the ground, or you’d like to figure out this whole crowdsourcing thing.

We’ve curated some useful information for our readers to help you on your way. Turn the page and discover “how to…” for yourself.

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INNOVATIVE APPS Created by Local Techies

BY LAUR A HINE

Creating the next hit app doesn’t just happen in California tech temples—your neighbor might be burning the midnight oil coding a new way to shop, listen to music or commemorate a big game. These innovative apps were developed right here in the Chicago area. Currently, all these apps are only available for the iPhone, but many have plans to expand into other platforms.

30Second Mom

This on-the-go mobile app is perfect for those moments when you’re in the carpool line and need a little inspiration or problem-solving advice. We love that all the tips are easily read— literally in the promised 30 seconds—and range in topic from parenting to nutrition to beauty. Elisa All, a successful web entrepreneur in Evanston, is the brains behind the 30Second Mom website and app. Free, 30secondmom.com

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Fanmento

Snap a selfie at a game, and Fanmento uses your location to add fan-appropriate logos to your photo. You can order prints or turn your embellished photo into a poster. As of now, the app features college teams, but it plans to expand to pro teams and other entertainment venues in the near future. Developed

by Chicago superfan and Highland Park native Jason Muslin.

Free, fanmento.com

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GimmeAnother

Busy shoppers, this app is for you. GimmeAnother allows you to reorder favorite products in less than 10 seconds via your iPhone.

The app links to retailers and producers, and is perfect for items you need all the time. President and CEO Jon Roketenetz hails from Chicago, while Andrew Sannes of Lake Forest is the Chief Legal and Business Development Officer. Free, gimmeanother.com

Rivet News Radio

Similar to what Flipbook does visually, Rivet News does audibly. The app allows you to create a custom news feed with options for Chicago, national, international and topical stories.

Want North Shore traffic reports and weather before you walk out the door? Done. Then you can move to the fun stuff, like “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me.” Founder John MacLeod lives in Kenilworth. Free, rivetnewsradio.com

Naturespace

Put your headphones on and escape to a sea of tranquility or a summer mountain valley. Using your headphones and cool holographic sound technology, this app transports you with 3-D sounds of wildlife and nature. Skeptical? Try the demo and you’ll be impressed by the sound engineering for this app, developed by John Buehler of Skokie. Free, naturespace.com

ValslistRadio

Developed by our favorite music gal (Val Haller, who lives in Winnetka and writes the popular Valslist column for Make It Better), this new music-streaming app helps busy adults keep up with new music. Want to impress your kids? Or not just listen to the same-old, same-old music all the time? This app has wonderfully curated lists to get you rocking or humming to a new sound. $2.99, valslist.com

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It takes more than a good idea and a lot of money for inventors to successfully move a product from conception to market, because there are too many details that, if left unchecked, can result in financial loss.

Many of the women inventors assisted by WIN are mothers who created a product that is a solution to a problem, like the Potty Spray Guard. It prevents toddler boys’ pants from getting wet when they go potty sitting down.

For those of you with an idea for an innovative product who are ready to give it a try, “Be prepared to work really hard, but be prepared to work smart first,” Cohen says. You never know, it could be the next big thing.

Dhana Cohen

helping inventors avoid costly mistakes when launching products

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photo by tell draper productions, inc.

by Melanie KalMar

Dhana Cohen anD MelinDa Knight, founders of The Women Inventorz Network (WIN), have seen it happen too many times. Inventors dip into their retirement savings without doing their homework and order 10,000 units of product, only for it to be scrapped because it didn’t meet safety standards or other criteria for market readiness, says Cohen of Deerfield.

“There are many companies that will take your money and promise you millions of dollars,” Cohen says. “Unfortunately, in our industry, there are a lot of people who make promises they cannot always keep.”

From decades of experience assisting inventors, Cohen and Knight became experts on taking an idea from conception to market and learned the pitfalls to avoid. In the process, they established relationships with a vast network of inventors and purchasers. In 2012, they made that network public with their website (womeninventorznetwork.com) which attracts 250,000 unique visitors each month.

They use the virtual platform and their weekly radio show (toginet.com/shows/innovationdivaz) to educate inventors on how to prepare their products for market and connect them with companies that purchase large quantities of innovative products, such as Bed Bath & Beyond, “As Seen on TV” giant Telebrands, makers of the Ped Egg foot file, and Allstar Products Group, creators of the Snuggie, a blanket with sleeves.

Inventors who join the network receive email blasts about companies seeking new products. They can also choose to: • Hire WIN to pitch their products on TV and radio shows • Market their products to WIN’s large following on social media • Participate in webinars that feature inventors offering tips • Place their products in celebrity gift bags • Sell their products at WIN’s virtual storefront • Take advantage of sponsorship opportunities

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3/11/14 12:09 PM

By S u S a n pa S t e r n a k

Call it a hobby, financial arbitrage or even a form of personal therapy.

For bargain-hunters, DiY interior Designers,

and those who get an emotional high from purging unwanted items from their homes, there is no greater treasure trove than Craigslist.

It’s a win-win for those looking to make a local match with a buyer and/or seller for household items, among other things.

I recently met a Lincolnshire couple, Millie and Todd Cason, who are staging their home before putting it on the market. They bought my worn-butsolid wood table for $175, painted it, and voilà! Their previously empty kitchen now shows well for wouldbe house hunters, and I reclaimed valuable space in my basement.

“We looked into renting furniture, but that was insanely expensive,” Millie says. “Craigslist has been great to find things, and also as we’re moving, getting rid of things.”

A ready pool of buyers is hard to resist in the doldrums of winter when homeowners often dream of redecorating. My husband has returned from work to an empty living room, and my son had his bunk bed sold out from under him. I took the cash and bought a more appropriate bed for my son’s room. And I didn’t pay a penny out of pocket.

Sellers, follow these basic rules of marketing 101 to pique customer interest: • Consider seasonal demand. Don’t try to sell your patio set in the dead of winter.

• Holidays are the best time to sell household furniture. People are entertaining and need extra beds, tables, chairs, etc.

• Use brand names to describe pieces of furniture, even if the item didn’t originally come from that retailer. For example, a “Pottery Barn-style sofa” will come up for those plugging in “Pottery Barn” in the search function.

Buyers need to be equally savvy: • Shop against season for the best deals.

• No offer is too low. Many sellers simply want someone to remove the item from their house.

Negotiate!

One can never be too safe when it comes to inviting unknown people into their homes, and there have been some tragic Craigslist stories in the news. Use common sense. I will always take a lower price from someone I know, rather than fetch more money from an unfamiliar customer. I bring small items outside to show customers; for larger, heavier items, I make sure another adult is at home. And go with your gut.

I’ve ended deals at the last minute if I get a strange feeling from the buyer or seller. One friend’s sisterin-law does Craigslist merchandise exchanges in her local police station’s parking lot.

So use caution and your financial wits, and dive into the haggling world of Craigslist. The water’s fine!

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Rave about It

By Julie chernoff

When you’ve had a great experience somewhere, whether at the salon, a resort, the neighborhood hardware store, or that sweet little bistro, don’t you want to share it with friends and save the info on your phone for your next outing? And wouldn’t you love to have your friends’ list of recommendations in your pocket?

That’s the whole point of Raved, a useful new crowdsourcing app that gives voice to the positive.

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photo courtesy of raved

Henry Vogel

No need to waste time reading negative reviews when all you really want to know is where—as opposed to where not—to go. Think of it as the antiYelp, although Wilmette native and Raved CEO Henry Vogel is quick to point out that Yelp serves a purpose, but he wanted to take a different approach.

“Today, anyone and everyone who is online has a microphone,” Vogel says. “But they also have anonymity, which allows people to rant or vent. Online draws the extremes. No doubt, there’s a role for that, but we wanted to amplify the positive. Life’s too short to be negative.”

Vogel is no stranger to tech startups. A graduate of New Trier, Northwestern and the Harvard Business School, he began his career as a management consultant at BCG. But Silicon Valley called, and he loved the energy, first working in corporate strategy and development at eBay, and then moving into the world of startups as CRO of Quigo, and then CEO of Apptera, which begat Raved.

“I wanted a place to put all my favorite places so I could easily find and share them,” he says. “And I wanted the ability to quickly access my go-to friends’ favorites. I’ve got a drawer full of menus and business cards, but I wanted it all on my phone.”

Enter the concept for Raved, a social recommendation engine that does just that. Raved also integrates lots of other useful information for those places like contact info, pictures, maps, menus, reservations and deals from more than 25 different partners, including Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter, GrubHub, Groupon, OpenTable and, yes, even Yelp.

Raved lets you follow restaurants, stores and services that get endorsements from your friends. Raved has also enlisted and aggregated information from what they call “Über Ravers”—market influencers and authorities like celebrities, chefs and journalists (full disclosure: I’m an Über Raver)—so you can easily get their recommendations, too. With the app, anyone can Rave about places they love, whether it be in Evanston, Napa Valley or Manhattan. And more users means increased content—literally, the more the merrier.

“Everyone has their favorite go-to friends and sources, their influencers,” Vogel says. “With Raved, you have the context of a friend—or an Über Raver—to recommend something that they’ve enjoyed and we put them right in your pocket wherever you are and whenever you need their advice.”

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Deborah Butterfield Sculpture at the Zolla / Lieberman Gallery

RiveR NoRth GalleRy DistRict

Zolla / Lieberman Gallery i have always loved this gallery for its elegant space, unassuming gallery directors, helpful assistants and stellar eye for emerging and established artists. a visit here is a treat and always informative. prices range, so you might get lucky with something that isn’t necessarily going to put you in a financial straight jacket. 325 W. Huron St., Chicago, 312944-1990, ZollaLiebermanGallery.com Hilton / Asmus Contemporary Entering this small gallery in river north is like being welcomed into the owners’ home. Arica Hilton and Sven Asmus take great care in making everyone feel at ease. shows rotate, so you never know if you will find photography, textiles, paintings (sometimes by Ms. hilton, herself a respected painter) or sculpture, but the prices are reasonable and the work is very approachable. 716 N. Wells St., Chicago, 312-475-1788, Hilton-Asmus.com

Galleries are Your FrieNds B y E ly s a B E t h a l fa n o

original to hang over the mantle, but don’t know where to start?

Buying a piece of artwork can be both daunting and overwhelming. There used to be two types of people: those who collect art, and the rest of us dopes, with galleries only willing to talk to the former. No more! Any gallery owner worth their salt knows that art lovers aren’t born; they are built by answering every question from every new face that walks through the door. Making newcomers feel comfortable and sharing information about the artists—with no pressure to buy—is how most galleries build long-term relationships and function in today’s economy.

Here’s a list of six friendly, established galleries in Chicago and the North Shore. Chicago Gallery News magazine, which is free for the taking at all of the galleries, is a great source for many more.

Receptions are a fun way to get your feet wet and to understand the general vibe of the gallery. Check gallery websites for hours. And remember, when considering a piece of artwork, the ultimate question is: Do you love it?

Looking for something beautifuL and

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West loop GalleRy DistRict

Packer Schopf Gallery My favorite painter of all time shows here: Peggy McNamara, the only artist in residence at the Field Museum for the past 20 years. the contemporary art featured at this gallery can be both mind-opening and mind-bending, and Aaron Packer is truly passionate and easy-to-talk-to. let him show you around and share the vision of the artists he represents. one of them might be just the right fit for you.

942 W. Lake St., Chicago, 312-226-8984, PackerGallery.com Linda Warren Projects this large, beautiful gallery has an eye for contemporary, established and emerging artists. you can spend time talking to the owner about the varied artists she represents, or just stroll on your own. 327 N. Aberdeen, Ste. 151, Chicago, 312-432-9500, LindaWarrenProjects.com

NoRth shoRe

Perspective Gallery for some lovely and provocative photography options, which can sometimes be a less expensive choice for the dining room than a painting, visit the perspective Gallery at 1310-1/2B Chicago Ave., Evanston, 224-200-1155, PerspectiveGallery.org.

Elysabeth Alfano is a former Chicago gallery owner and the Executive Producer and Host of the monthly show, “Fear No ART presents The Dinner Party,” FearNoARTChicago.com/ about-dinner-party/

photo courtEsy of Zolla / liEBErMan GallEry

Fear No art:

Ken Saunders Gallery not every mantel calls for a painting. if you can work your way past the price tag, considering glass for your home is an easy option because it is so beautiful. form and technique are often easier to process than the sometimescomplex storylines of a painting. owner Ken Saunders is as nice as they come. 230 W. Superior St., Chicago, 312-5751400, KenSaundersGallery.com

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3/11/14 12:12 PM

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FAMILY

HOW TO TALK WITH YOUR KIDS ABOUT

SEXTING

BY SHANNAN YOU NGER

about their child sending or receiving explicit texts or photos, but it’s happening— and at increasingly younger ages.

Dr. Kortney Peagram, a psychologist who educates kids about responsible Internet use at Chicago’s Bulldog Solutions says, “Sexting can start as early as fourth or fifth grade. At that age, kids don’t know what they are doing and often use dirty words without truly understanding the meaning.“ A study published in Pediatrics in January found that 22 percent of atrisk seventh graders surveyed engaged in sexting, defined as electronically sending sexually explicit messages and/or pictures. Middle school teachers in the Chicagoland area tell Sue Thotz, Chicago Program Manager at Common Sense Media, that sexting is a problem in their schools.

“Parents need to be discussing the kind of information that children are sharing about themselves,” Thotz says.

NO PARENT WANTS TO THINK

“Talk generally about the kind of information you’re sending out yourself, be it photos, words, thoughts, [or] images that you express and share.”

That conversation should continue throughout the tween and teen years as sexting becomes more prevalent. Jo Langford, author of “The SEX-EDcyclopedia,” notes that boys and girls are sexting at the same rate and says it is something all parents need to address.

“Talk to them about what this can do to their future and the risks they might be taking,” Pegram says. “It might be thrilling to press send, but you can’t ever take it back.”

Parents can use examples of kids who suffered unintended consequence of sexting, such as the Evanston Township High School boys’ baseball team.

They forfeited their first round state playoff game last spring after many players were suspended for sharing inappropriate photos among themselves.

“Such examples illustrate that this

is not a joke and that their actions will have an impact,” Thotz says.

Consequences are far reaching; possessing explicit photos of minors is a criminal offense. “That would go on their record and impact their chances for scholarships, college, or part-time work. It is not worth it,” Peagram says.

New apps make sexting easier and give kids a false sense of security that images disappear or can be deleted.

“The Internet is forever. Kids just don’t get that,” Langford says. “The ease and anonymity of Snapchat was designed for sexting.” He says he has a zero-tolerance policy for it. “The good stuff [on] Snapchat, you can get elsewhere; the bad stuff is really bad.”

While parents know they should check their child’s phone, Langford says many parents want to avoid invading their child’s privacy. “Instead,” he says, “the philosophy that there is no privacy online should be more in the common vernacular.”

While the technology is always changing and evolving, some basic facts remain the same. “Parenting is still parenting,” Thotz says. “Nothing has changed about giving your kids your values and telling them why and what you expect of them. Kids have the potential to share and create with technology and we as parents have to steer them toward doing fantastic things. We need to make sure they’re aware of the perils and pitfalls so they can avoid it.”

Why Snapchats Never Really “Disappear” — By Courtney Cook Snapchat is founded on the lie of perceived privacy. Though the photos disappear within the allotted amount of seconds the snapper chooses, the photos do not actually disappear. Snapchat states in their terms of service that they “cannot guarantee that deletion always occurs within a particular timeframe” from their server. So though they boast that the snaps are here one second and gone the next, they could be stored within the company’s archives for an indeterminate amount of time.

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Further, Snapchat states that “Snaps are deleted from our servers after they have been viewed by the recipient.” Notice how they only say that the photos are deleted from their servers, not the recipient’s phones. Richard Hickman, a digital forensics examiner, discovered that the photos are archived in the recipient’s phones and can be retrieved fairly easily if you know where to look. The photos may not be readily accessible, but they are still present in the cyber world.

Potentially worst of all, Snapchat states in their privacy policy that by sending a snap, you are granting them “a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sub-licensable and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, create derivative works from, distribute, perform and display” the content you have sent. Bottom line: Your pictures can be used to sell anything and everything without your direct consent because you have granted them permission just by participating in their application.

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family | travel

Galena Garlic Company

fast, lunch and dinner. To opt out of the chile would be sacrilege; the chile is part of this town’s flavor.

Immerse yourself in Southwestern cuisine, which fuses Native American foods with Mexican flavors, by taking classes at the Santa Fe Culinary Academy (santafeculinaryacademy.com), a professional program that also offers classes for visitors. Learn how to make New Mexican classics like chile relleno, tamales or posole.

The Santa Fe School of Cooking (santafeschoolofcooking.com) isn’t a professional school, but you can learn plenty of new techniques, or even take in the restaurant scene with them. One creative class offered is “Cooking with Georgia O’Keeffe,” which explores O’Keeffe’s ideas about food and cooking. “Both O’Keeffe’s art and cooking were about elegant simplicity,” says chef Michelle Roetzer as she guides guests through recipes from Deborah Madison’s book, “A Painters Kitchen: Recipes from the Kitchen of Georgia O’Keeffe.”

By andrea guthmann

Cooking on vacation? You must be kidding! For many, an essential vacation ingredient is freedom from kitchen duty. Yet many travelers are spicing up their vacations with cooking classes and culinary tours. Here’s a taste of some foodiefriendly destinations.

Savor the SouthweSt Part of the fun of traveling is trying different foods you just don’t get back at home. From the adobe houses to the smell of the piñon trees burning in kiva fireplaces, Santa Fe, N.M., is so different from what we see, smell and experience in the Midwest. Chiles, the ubiquitous culinary symbol of Santa Fe, are served roasted, fried and even dipped in chocolate at break-

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You’ve heard about southern hospitality. It’s true, things move a little slower down south. Maybe it’s the heat, or perhaps courtesy and cordiality is just how they’re raised. Either way, life feels a little different in the South. South Carolina, known for low-country cooking, is also home to some of the country’s best barbecue. The new South Carolina Barbecue Trail has paved the way for visitors to experience this slowcooked favorite at more than 163 barbecue restaurants across the state (bbq.discoversouthcarolina.com).

wine and dine Sonoma County, Calif., is known not only for great wine, but for great food as well. You can sample some terrific pairings each March during Sonoma Restaurant Week. Or go on a delicious adventure with Savor Healdsburg Food Tours (savorhealdsburgfoodtours.com). Three-hour tours give visitors a taste of the area’s culinary history and insider advice on the hottest restaurants. Relish Culinary Adventures (relishculinary.com) also offers tasting tours and handson classes from the wine country’s top chefs.

frenCh ConneCtion Want to go on the ultimate foodie vacation? If your answer is, “mais oui,” check out Cooking with Friends in France (cookingwithfriends.com), which or-

photos courtesy of galena garlic company and l’École de la maison

Southern Comfort

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LocaL FLavor

L’École de la Maison

ganizes culinary vacations at Julia Child’s former home in Provence. Experiment in Child’s former kitchen, then head out on market and tasting tours of southern France. Bon appétit!

What if you want to perfect your pastries and serve dessert that’s simply magnifique, but can’t quite make it to France? Voilà: L’École de la Maison (cookingschoolatosthoff.com), the French cooking school at the Osthoff Resort in Wisconsin’s Elkhart Lake, is at your service.

Learn to make crème brûlée, crêpes Suzette and other classic French bistro items at this classic Midwest waterfront resort. The best part, says Scott Baker, Osthoff Resort’s food and beverage director, is “the end of class, when the group can sit down together and reap the rewards of their delicious culinary creations.” Ooh la la!

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Hop from one specialty-food shop to another along Galena’s historic Main Street. The walls of the Galena Garlic Company (galenagarlic.com) are lined with handcrafted seasonings and infused olive oils. At the Galena Canning Company (galenacanning.com), have your pick of the freshest homemade jams, dips and salsas. In between, there are tea shops, artisanal cheese shops and tasting rooms from local vineyards.

Galena’s farm-to-fork restaurant, One Eleven Main (oneelevenmain.com), prides itself on bringing diners the freshest foods straight from the heartland. Pork from nearby Arnold’s Farm (arnoldsfarm.com), beef from Lange’s Farm in Wisconsin (langefarmmeats.com), cheese, produce, baked goods, even the alcohol, are all locally sourced. Another charming ingredient: Striking black-and-white portraits of the restaurant’s food providers decorate the walls.

Get a taste for the local flavor on your next getaway. It’s the secret ingredient to a great vacation!

3/11/14 3:21 PM

HOME

THE BLUES

Rich fabrics, textured wall coverings and blue accents transform a Kenilworth home.

B Y TAT E G U N N E R S O N PHOTOS BY ERIC HAUSMAN

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An antique rug creates a classic backdrop for the living room furnishings, which include a custom Tiger Velvet and Opuzen-covered sofa designed by Edelmann and a pair of the clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; existing chairs that she recovered in luxurious blue fabrics. The designer also changed the fireplace mantels and surrounds throughout.

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A vinyl wall covering from Elitis envelops the family room, which Edelmann furnished with a pair of custom sofas and a round leather ottoman with nail-head trim.

“Julia did a phenomenal job of using wall coverings to create that designed feel within a nice neutral palette,” the client says.

ocated blocks from the lake, this three-story house had been renovated and expanded by a prior owner, but the new residents wanted to make it their own. “This house is very traditional, but it also has this really cool modern elegance,” says Buckingham Interiors + Design founder, Julia Buckingham Edelmann, of the turn-of-the-century home in Kenilworth that she designed for a family with four young children.

After interviewing several designers, they hired Edelmann to help them. “It was so obvious to us the second we met Julia that she was the clear choice,” the wife explains. “We really appreciate how she mixes old and new pieces.”

Creating layered interiors with a rich stew of influences has become a signature of Edelmann’s “moder-

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nique” aesthetic. She approached this project in much the same way, combining antiques with new furnishings and custom pieces of her own design.

In the entry foyer, for example, the designer hung a large chandelier from Urban Electric over a modern pedestal table with a tobacco finish. A blue rug from Oscar Isberian lends the space a contemporary feel while the patterned grass-cloth wall covering straddles the line between antique and contemporary. “The pattern is a throwback to the turn of the century, but the color and texture give it a much more modern feel,” Edelmann says. “This space really needed to make a statement.”

In the adjacent formal living room, Edelmann selected a more traditional antique rug, which she juxtaposed with a contemporary concrete coffee

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A wall of draperies creates a dramatic backdrop for the upholstered headboard in the master bedroom. Edelmann seamlessly incorporated the owners’ existing bedside tables into her design. “It can be difficult to incorporate previously owned pieces into a new home, but if something fits, let’s use it,” Edelmann says.

table from Bradley and a custom sofa of her own design. To spice up a pair of her clients’ existing chairs, the designer recovered them with luxurious blue velvet. “There’s always one thing that sets the tone, and in this project it was color,” Edelmann says. “Blue is a very traditional color, so that made the owners feel safe.”

Edelmann carried the blue accents into the master bedroom, where an ikat rug with shades of blue, gray and white give the room a current sensibility without overwhelming the traditional furnishings. Behind the upholstered headboard, Edelmann covered a bank of windows with a wall of floor-to-ceiling draperies. “There was really only one option for the placement of the bed, which happened to be directly

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in front of a full wall of windows at the front of the house,” the designer says.

At the foot of the bed, Edelmann placed a vintage brass trunk with a sheared-lamb cushion on top. “Julia used her expertise to bring concepts, fabrics and color palettes that were very much what we wanted, but that we would have never thought about doing,” the client says. “She’s a pleasure to work with, and she has become a very dear friend of mine.”

According to Edelmann, the feeling is mutual.

“There’s a certain energy that comes with working with both of the homeowners. It’s much more of a personal journey,” Edelmann says. “These clients are the most intelligent, elegant, engaging couple, and it was a joy to work with them.”

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Home | organization

HOw and wHY YOu sHOuld

Organize YOur ClOset nOw By l aur a Hine

If your bedroom closet is overstuffed with clothes, shoes and accessories, you probably know you should tackle a closet purge.

Unlike cleaning out a hall closet, your bedroom closet is personal and emotional, filled with secrets, dreams and regrets, so most of us need a psychological intervention as much as an organizational one. Start with the “why,” and once you have some motivation, we have ideas on how to get help and how to get going.

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Why Clean Out Your Closet?

1. You’ll reduce Your dailY frustration level.

“if everything in your closet is something you actually want to wear, and you like how you look in each piece, you really streamline your morning,” says Linda Goldman, owner of Altogether Organized (altogetherorganized.com) and a Certified professional organizer who lives in Highland park.

2. You can make some moneY.

Corri McFadden’s company eDrop-Off, which has two locations in Chicago, is one of the largest online-luxury consignment sellers in the country. They sell more than 2,500 items a week, and according to mcFadden, if you’re not wearing that Chanel jacket or Fendi bag, you can turn it into cash.

3. Your outfits will look fresher.

mcFadden finds that clients with too much stuff tend to wear the first 12 pieces they see. if you get

rid of the ill-fitting, no-longer-loved and out-of-style pieces that are hogging all the room, you’ll be able to see and wear a lot more of your clothes.

4. You’ll let go of the guilt.

Both mcFadden and Goldman have seen time and again clients holding onto a piece “because it was expensive.” But if you beat yourself up every time you open your closet, and see those très chic boots that make you want to cut your foot off because they’re so uncomfortable, it’s time to let them go. out of sight, out of mind.

5. Your closet will match Your lifestYle.

Goldman gently helps clients let go of pieces that no longer work with their lives—like the 20 power suits a full-time mom had a hard time parting with even though she admitted she’d never wear them again. Goldman often suggests taking a photo or storing one suit in an out-of-the-way closet, but not in your primary space.

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Who Can Help?

If your closet Is full of labels...

If you have a lot of designer clothes and accessories, then eDrop-Off will send a consultant out for free in exchange for consigning at least 10 of your unwanted designer pieces.“It’s all about establishing a relationship,” McFadden says. “Our employees are there to answer your questions and take care of you. When we show up, we want you to be excited to see us.” To get an idea of the items they consign, it’s helpful to start at their website (shopedropoff.com).

If your closet Is stuffed to the brIm...

If your closet is less designer, and more just overstuffed, it’s worth it to pay an expert like Altogether Organized to come and help you sort through everything. Goldman specializes in helping the stuck and overwhelmed, and she’s very gentle and friendly.

If you just need a lIttle extra help...

Enlist a friend if you’re basically organized, but need an honest opinion on what to keep vs. toss. Goldman says a friend can help best not by issuing edicts (“That looks terrible on you!”) but instead by asking questions (“When was the last time you wore that?”

“Is it worth the money to get it tailored?”), and then you can do the same for her.

How to Get Organized Here are four tips from our experts to smooth the process: 1. no need to empty the whole closet.

Begin by taking out items if any of the following are true: • You don’t like how it looks on you • It’s in poor condition • It doesn’t fit your lifestyle • It’s out of style 2. what’s left, group by category.

So all your pants are together, etc.

3. group each category by color.

Twelve pairs of black pants?! Weed again.

4. hang and arrange by need.

Unless you’re going to a black-tie affair every week, cocktail dresses should be in the back. What you wear every day should be in the front.

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bet ter you | shopping

Vilebrequin swim trunks

BiG DesiGners

Brunello Cucinelli, Burberry (finally open), Gucci and Prada all have stores, but the quality and savings vary greatly. brunello had an amazing sale, but the other luxury stores were less exciting. We found an abundance of over-logo’d pieces—many made in china or turkey—which seemed geared toward the o’hare tourist. be sure to ask what is made for the outlet and what is discounted brand merchandise.

stores we loveD: All SAintS

youngish fashion, but some pieces work for almost anyone. clothes are six to eight weeks behind the chicago store, but all were on sale, plus an extra 30 percent off. shop for: embellished tanks, photo-realistic prints and shoes.

BArneyS

DiAne von FurStenBerg

by laur a hine

Looking for designer wear but want to shop smart? The new Fashion Outlets of Chicago (5220 Fashion Outlets Way, Rosemont, 847-928-7500, fashionoutletsofchicago.com), has everyone from practical moms to fashionistas buzzing.

they had just gotten 50 boxes direct from the dvf las vegas store, but still offered to call us if there was something specific we wanted but didn’t see. nice! shop for: iconic wrap dresses, but also gorgeous blouses and skirts. le CreuSet 

not everything is on sale all the time, but if you need a dutch oven and aren’t fussy about your color, you’ll definitely save 25-30 percent. shop for: cast-iron classics and small kitchen tools.

photos courtesy of le crueset and vilbrequin

this outlet probably has as much merchandise as the oak street store, but in a fraction of the space. you won’t mind when you see the discounts. shop for: men’s and women’s designer wear, like 3.1 Phillip Lim and L’Wren Scott.

GettinG there

construction and confusing signs mean you should pre-map the route (we took an impromptu tour of o’hare ). once the roads are complete, it should be easy-on, easy-off, but not quite yet. happily, the parking garage is a thing of wonder. if you plan to shop all day, pay $10 for valet parking. otherwise, head to the third floor of the garage, which equates to the second floor of the mall. follow the green lights, and park in indoor comfort. the first two hours are free, and it’s $2 an hour after that.

Choose Your strateGY

Go on a thursday or friday. you’ll avoid the weekend crowds, and the stores will be fully stocked. the first floor of the mall is pretty standard outlet fare, where you’ll find a lot of teens and moms with kids in tow. the second floor is where to shop for you!

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theory

have a job that requires some nice-looking basics in black, gray or navy? start here. the clothes are six to eight weeks behind, but with a sheath

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dress, does it matter? Shop for: great-fitting, office-appropriate, stylish separates.

Tory Burch

Current-season clothes and accessories aren’t discounted, but those made for the outlet or past season are at a savings. If you love this brand, it’s a must stop. Shop for: tunics, and if you like the logo, you’ll have plenty of accessories to choose from.

Trina Turk

This newer addition to the mall—and the beloved brand’s only outlet—carries about 50 percent past-season merchandise and 50 percent made for the outlet. They also have a limited selection of home goods and a few men’s items. Shop for: signature prints, bikinis and cover-ups.  VileBrequin

While still expensive, these classic, preppy swim trunks cost $117 instead of $250. My husband thought it was outrageous, but I’m happy he’ll look stylish on the beach. Shop for: three styles for men—young guy (shorter), suburban guy (longer) and board short (very long and no lining).

Flatbreads at Prasino

PHOTO by KevIn PrudenCIO

Delicious lunch opTions

All that shopping means you’ve earned your lunch. Head to Prasino for food that bears absolutely no resemblance to the dreary offerings of mall food courts. We started with the Kale and Spinach salad, bright with lemon and gilded with Parmesan. Crunchy flatbreads and fresh sushi rolls round out the lighter lunch choices, but if you’re there with kids or a guy (so sorry!), they’ll find plenty to choose from.

Or check out the myriad restaurant choices at MB Financial Park, just across from the Fashion Outlets, including Park Tavern, Chicago Hofbrauhaus and the Five Roses Pub.

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bet ter you | finance

riages. The more you understand what’s really happening when you disagree about money, the better equipped you’ll be to peacefully resolve disputes.

Step 2: Separate

How To

Divorce-Proof Your Finances

By Meghan Streit Dr. Terri Orbuch, relationship expert and

author of “5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage From Good to Great” (drterrithelovedoctor.com), says that seven out of 10 couples report that money is a source of conflict in their relationship. We all know that recurring arguments can erode trust and intimacy, in some cases ultimately leading to divorce.

Put your marriage on the right track by following these four steps to build a healthy, conflict-free relationship with your money and your spouse.

Step 1: Analyze “Often times, disagreements about money have little to do with money itself and more to do with issues of control, security, self-esteem and love,” Orbuch says.

That’s why she recommends married couples take the time to understand what money symbolizes to each partner. Orbuch says things like how your parents handled finances, what money meant to you as a child and the role money played in past relationships all can impact how we deal with money in our mar-

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It might seem counterintuitive because marriage is all about togetherness, but Chicago wealth advisor Kathy Roeser (morganstanleyfa.com/theroesergroup) says it is essential that spouses maintain individual financial identities. You might have joint accounts for household expenses and retirement, but Roeser says you should still maintain separate checking and investment accounts, as well as a credit card in your own name.

She says controlling some money of your own is not only an important source of confidence and independence, but also can protect you in the event a spouse dies or is irresponsible with money.

Step 3: Schedule Chicago CPA and financial planner Kelley Long (ssh-cpa.com) recommends married couples meet quarterly to discuss finances. Those discussions should include a review of spending and progress toward goals like saving for retirement. You should also discuss big-picture dreams, like buying a vacation home or starting a business.

“Open up a bottle of wine and make it kind of fun, or treat yourself to something fun after the meeting,” Long says.

Step 4: Splurge There’s a lot to be negotiated in marriage. That’s why Tina B. Tessina, psychotherapist and author of “Money, Sex and Kids: Stop Fighting about the Three Things That Can Ruin Your Marriage” (tina tessina.com), says it’s so important for each of you to have some money to spend however you’d like—no strings attached. The financial freedom to grab lunch with the girls or to splurge on a new dress will make it easier to compromise when it comes to big decisions like college and retirement.

“If possible, each partner can be allowed a reasonable amount per month to spend without checking with each other,” Tessina says. “How much it is will depend on your budget and how much surplus you have.”

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bet ter you | fashion

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how to ge t the look :

the best part of this pairing is the likelihood that you already own the basic pieces required to create the look. it can be as effortless as pairing a white cotton tee or silk shirt with a black pant and simple sandal. it’s a timeless, pulled-together look that requires very little thought. by erin boyle

the Spring 2014 collections showed an inspired color palette of soft pastels and vivid brights that stand alone brilliantly or blend together ably to create a sensible balance. traditional fashion “rules” continue to be broken—the use of white as a year-round color comes to mind—and color is a major player.

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PHotoS CourteSy oF ManuFaCturerS

Black &

the Pantone Color institute has announced its seasonal color schemes for more than 50 years. this spring’s “trending colors” include bright purple (Pantone’s “radiant orchid”), mint (“Hemlock”), and black and white. like the color palette, ready-to-wear trends are both approachable and wearable. it’s a particularly strong season for sportswear, with a focus on supplying women with modern basics, fluid fabrics and a fresh approach to day and evening attire. Monochromatic, minimalist dressing is very now, as are sporty looks, bold prints, sheers, and textural embellishments, such as fringe, embroidery or beading.

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Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone’s executive Director, told Women’s Wear Daily that colors speak to ideas of optimism.

“What’s interesting is we’re seeing exciting and fashionable colors as well as more neutral ones,” she said. While recent seasons have showed full looks in dramatic colors, not everyone is ready to make the bold leap just yet. “there needs to be equilibrium,” eiseman said. “the world still needs the stability of soft neutrals.”

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to read erin’s full reports (excerpted here) on 2014 Spring Color and Fashion trends, including additional color palettes, visit makeitbetter.net/spring2014

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Captions 1 BaubleBar Shasta Daisy Collar, $38 2 House of Holland Peggy striped round-frame sunglasses, $250 3 J. Crew Drapey Crepe Pencil Skirt in black, $120 4 DKNY Rissa Cutout Sandals, $275 5 Scoop NYC Kellee Dress in black and white, $185 6 Topshop “Jordan” Colorblock Bomber Jacket, $116 7 Stuart Weitzman Holidaypipe Wedge, $425 8 Kenzo Mini Leather Pouch, $215

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Radiant ORchid Kate middleton, Dutchess of cambridge, was photographed wearing a dress in this vibrant shade last summer and it immediately sold out. although it may not lend itself well to every skin color, incorporating it through prints and bright accessories will keep you on color scheme.

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Captions 1 stella mccartney Beckett fauxleather clutch, $698

3 ted Baker london “neevo” pump in purple suede, $170 4 Boutique purple Wool coat, $390 5 nordstrom “regal” cashmere and silk scarf, $98 6 mary Katrantzou trinkolo printed satin-twill Dress, $2,975 7 tibi silk camisole top in Boysenberry, $158

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photos courtesy of manufacturers

2 BaubleBar amethyst sea Glass Drops, $62

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MINT GREEN Pastels were everywhere for spring, used both as a monochromatic, head-to-toe look and mixed thoughtfully into prints. This particular shade offered a calming lightness to the spring collections, and it pairs successfully with a variety of other colors.

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CAPTIONS 1 Jimmy Choo “Anouk” Pump, $595 2 Stella & Dot Sutton Necklace — Green Stone, $178

4 Loeffler “Randall” Mini Rider Shoulder Bag, $395 5 Topshop Mint Tapered Trousers by Unique, $350 6 Vanessa Bruno “Cabas” Large Shopper, $174 7 Acne Studios Shelby Cropped Sweater in Mint, $250

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8 Van’s Women’s Authentic BeachGlass Mint Shoe, $45

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MANUFACTURERS

3 Raoul Mint Sleeveless Waisted Dress, $492

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SPONSORED CONTENT

when it comes to fashion

BY THE LAKE FOREST SHOP

The graphic juxtaposition of white and black counteract the softness of pale palettes.

Remember the motorcycle jacket? Now called the “moto” jacket, this piece is all about edge. Try pairing leather and lace together—you’ll see how lace instantly feminizes the look. Black is the number one color this season, followed by bold brights.

The power of the white shirt. More than ever, look at your white blouse as the star of the show. Think about pleats, button-backs and delicate seam work. Worn with black, you will have the ultimate color-block look.

Romance never fades. Floral prints, flowing pleats, lace in every color and the gentleness of soft pale colors reconfirms that elegance is always in style.

Dressing up. Our current Cinderellas are wearing both short and long dresses with sequins and lace, neutral colors, nudes and metallics.

Most of all, be yourself and have fun!

upcoming trunk shows APRIL 3-5

APRIL 16-17

Hilton Hollis

Paule Ka

APRIL 8–9

APRIL 24-26

Lourdes Chavez

Tom & Linda Platt

APRIL 10–12

APRIL 29–30

Lafayette 148 & Liancarlo

Lyn Devon

265 Market Square, Lake Forest 847-234-0548 | thelakeforestshop.com

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BET TER YOU | beauty

SPRING 2014

BEAUTY TRENDS

BY JENNY MUSLIN

After a rough winter, we can barely wait another minute for spring.

In addition to spring-cleaning your closet, think about springcleaning your beauty cabinet and restocking your essentials.

These hot trends will add oomph to your look and wash away winter blahs.

SMUDGY LINER

For a sultry look, dark smudged liner is super sexy. After using a pencil or gel liner around eyes, take an angled brush with a dark shadow and smudge it back and forth over the liner.

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HIGHLY PIGMENTED LIPS

All over the spring runways, models pouted in bold lip colors, specifically orange and berry tones. For those that think they can’t sport a bright lip, know that these hues work on all skin tones and instantly brighten the face. Try Stila Stay All Day Vinyl Lip Gloss in Fuchsia, ($24, sephora. com) Michael Kors GLAM Lip Lacquer in Dame, ($24, michaelkors.com) or Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Mischievous. ($9, ulta.com)

FRENCH MANICURE WITH BLACK POLISH

The 2014 way to wear a French manicure? Try black polish along the tips of white or clear painted nails.

Or try the reverse with a black matte polish and bright white on the tips.

Either way is very cutting edge.

PASTEL LIDS

Soft pinks, lilacs and blues are a subtle way to add color. To make this look more contemporary and less ‘80s, apply the colored shadow as a “wash” in the crease and use a nude shadow below the brow.

Adding darker eyeliner will intensify the look.

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Side-Swept hairStyleS

Side-swept bangs and side-parted hair are trending on runways and red carpets.

Amy Abramite of Chicago’s Maxine Salon explains: “Transitioning from shorter, straight-across bangs to side-swept ones is an easy grow-out process. It’s all about getting the right length so they can flow properly. I recommend a blunt bang that falls to the bridge of the nose. This length looks best swept over on the forehead, and can also be worn as a long, straight-across bang for the best of both worlds. When parting your hair on the side, the best place is lined up with the highest point of the eyebrow to compliment your face shape.”

For more drama, the part can be lined up at the end of the outer brow line.”

au naturale hair

Spring hair is all about the air-dried look: tousled, loose and natural. How to achieve the look? “Diffuse hair completely, applying no product while the hair is still damp,” says Gina Guerica, Oscar Blandi’s brand ambassador and director of product development. “When hair is 100 percent dry, wrap random sections around a 1K-inch barrel for a natural movement.”

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BET TER YOU | sex & the suburbs

BY MAR JIE KILLEEN FORGET THE HOUSE; THIS SPRING,

clean up your relationship.

Start by taking a fresh look at your everyday routines as a couple. Simple things like mealtime, helping kids with homework, and even where you sit on the couch when you watch TV, all affect the way you feel about life and each other.

Some routines are a source of joy and comfort, but others can create tension or resentment, and who needs that? The authors of “The Normal Bar,” a book based on the most extensive relationship survey ever conducted, write that “habits often outlive their usefulness, but the good news is that most couples can, if they choose, rejuvenate their love at any age by creating a new normal.”

It’s important to clear out the routines that aren’t working for you. So throw open the windows and let in the air and light. With the help of David Klow, owner of Skylight Counseling (skylightcounseling.com) in Skokie, here’s how to spring-clean your relationship.

Step 1: Identify the areas that need sprucing up.

What would bring more happiness and less stress into your life? Would you like more time with your mate or do you need more time for yourself? Are finances or household chores a source of friction? Do you long for more affection? You don’t have to overhaul your entire relationship, just pick one or two things to focus on. “Even small changes can make a big difference,” Klow says.

Step 2: Look at your typical day.

Pay attention to transitions: how

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you wake, how you leave the house in the morning, how you greet each other in the evening, and how you settle in at bedtime. Klow says that the times when “couples are moving in and out of different modes (like from business person to parent, or partner to lover) are important times to stay connected.”

If you’d like to spend more quality time with your husband, but you rarely see one another in the evening because you’re driving your kids to hockey practice, that’s a routine that’s in conflict with your goal. Just recognizing these barriers is helpful, says Klow, because once you know where the problem lies, you can clean it up.

Step 3: Clean from within.

This project begins with you.

“Look at yourself first,” Klow says.

“Ask, ‘What is one thing I could stop doing that would improve the relationship, and what is one thing I can do more of?’”

For example, the woman whose relationship is suffering from constant carpooling could trade off the driving with another mom or cut back on her kids’ sports schedules. She could also find more times to be with her husband throughout the day. Bring him a cup of coffee in bed before the kids wake up, or meet for lunch once a week. I have a friend who said taking long walks with his wife saved his marriage, because it provided them an active, relaxing way to be together.

Step 4: Work as a team.

Enlist the support of your mate and talk honestly about where you can

both make improvements. “Do this collaboratively, without blame,” Klow says. “How can we make this work together?”

It may take some compromise.

I stopped making plans on Friday nights after my husband admitted he was exhausted from the week and wanted nothing more than to chill at home. Now we stay in on Fridays and save events and invites for Saturdays.

We socialize less, but he’s more relaxed and fun to be around when we do go out.

Step 5: Have fun with it.

Spring-cleaning your relationship doesn’t have to be a chore, although it can be an adjustment. “When you start making those changes, it’s going to feel weird and awkward, but that’s totally fine,” Klow says. “It may feel forced, but it’s not. A relationship can be a fun place to experience change.”

It’s your relationship, a completely unique collaboration in the world.

Why not make it the one you want? If you have routines that have improved your relationship, please share them with us!

Now this is fun: The Bedroom Chemist (bedroomchemist.com) helps couples keep their sex lives fresh with sensuous kits delivered discreetly to your home. Check out their Spring Cleaning Kit, complete with a feather duster and French maid’s costume. It’s a surefire way to inject some good, clean (or dirty!) fun into your love life. We are giving away this kit to one of our lucky readers. Visit makeitbetter.net for details.

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DINING

Hoosier Mama Pie Company 749 Chicago Ave. Evanston 847-868-8863 hoosiermamapieco.com

BY JULIE CHERNOFF

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PHOTOS BY BRIT T ANDERSON

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Let me just put it out there: This is damn good pie.

In fact, anything that involves a crust at Hoosier Mama is pretty much guaranteed to be a home run, whether it’s the melt-in-your-mouth Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche ($6/slice; $8.50 with side salad), the adorable and addictive savory hand pies ($3 each; $10 for the tasting plate, three hand pies with aioli, Belly Fire sauce and mixed greens) or any of the sweet or savory pies on hand. Purchase them by the slice for immediate consumption, or take a whole pie home for family dinner (or just you, fork in hand, standing at the counter…I won’t judge).

Make the PilgriMage In the interest of science (hah!), I’ve made quite a few pilgrimages to Hoosier Mama since they opened in November. Yes, I know. Tiny violins. Poor me. I’ve tasted my way around most of the menu, and the report is highly favorable, starting with availability: They are open seven days a week, from morning (6:30 a.m. on weekdays, 7 or 8 a.m. on weekends) to night (closing at 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday).

If breakfast is your game plan, you’ve come to the right place. The beverage list shows great depth, from coffee drinks made with impeccably fresh-roasted Metropolis Coffee, a dozen and a half loose leaf Rishi teas on offer, and of course, the deepest, darkest hot chocolate. Combine that with either a three-cornered, sugar-crusted fruit turnover, tender chocolate-chip scone (recently named best in the city

by Chicago magazine) or tasty ginger muffin (all $3).

Morning Proteins A slice of the afore-mentioned quiche is all the protein you’ll need, but if you’re a grab-and-go commuter, the Buttermilk Biscuit Breakfast Sand-

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Hand Pie Plate

Now, the maiN eveNt: Pie. Look, I’ve already rhapsodized about the crust. It’s fantastic. But what the Hoosier Mama herself, Paula Haney, puts into those pies really sets them apart.

First up: Ginger Custard. Crystallized ginger-infused cream brings the flavor, and the silken texture is a wow. In summation: DAMN.

So maNy ChoiCeS…

wiches ($5-6 each), made with Ellis Family Farm eggs, cheese, breakfast meats and/or sautéed vegetables, are a thing of beauty. For the health-conscious, the Yogurt Parfaits ($5.50) are made with creamy Nancy’s Yogurt, seasonal fruit compote and housemade granola. Healthy doesn’t usually taste like this.

Sign me up, please.

At noon, a number of well-constructed sandwiches become available, including The Big Sticky (peanut butter, banana, honey and nuts on whole wheat, $5.50); Mrs. Douglas (brie, pear, fig jam, and lightly dressed greens on a ciabatta roll, $7.50) and the Ploughman’s (Nueske ham, cheddar, chutney, grainy mustard, apple and greens on a baguette, $8.50). The sandwiches, served on Red Hen bread, are enormous and easily splittable. We puzzled, though, over how so many great ingredients could add up to sandwiches that lacked some oomph.

Savory PieS At dinner, we opted to split the Hoosier Mama Staff Meal Salad ($7), mixed greens with crumbled goat cheese, toasted (not candied, thank you!) walnuts, Seedling Farm dried cherries and tangy house vinaigrette, which we really enjoyed. But please don’t be under the mistaken notion that we deprived ourselves—it accompanied a slice of savory pie ($6/slice, $8.50 with side salad) for each of us.

People, this is the kind of dinner that happy dreams are made of. The Chicken Pot Pie is a golden thyme-scented crust filled with a plethora of chicken and vegetables in a just-creamy-enough sauce, while the Curried Winter Vegetable Pie makes vegetarian food a serious option for anyone.

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Passion Fruit Meringue is another favorite. The brightly hued pie is topped with a fluffy meringue cloud, reaching stratospheric heights. Don’t worry; it’s edible, and so deeply delicious; sweet and tangy in all the right ways.

Others not to miss: the Fat Elvis (peanut butter filling in a ginger-snap crust topped with chocolate ganache, pretzels and chopped peanuts), Chocolate Cream Pie WITH BANANAS (sorry, I got excited), and Pear-Apple-Cranberry Pie with Pecan Crumble.

All pies, including savory pot pies and quiches, are available whole (some come in small and large sizes) and by the slice. Prices for whole pies range from $20 to $25, can be pre-ordered online and serve a whole mess of people.

To maximize the tasting situation, after 6 p.m. you can take advantage of the Evening Pie Flights, where you get three half-slices of pie from the day’s flight menu for $7.87. Nirvana achieved.

The one drawback here is the counter setup.

There’s no good place to stand in line (if the line is long, your tush is in someone’s face), and it feels like once you do order, the food can take awhile to appear.

But in this sunny, high-ceilinged, open space, happiness reigns. There is pie.

Passion Fruit Merinque Pie

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EntErtainmEnt | books

A How-To Book

for EvErything b y k E l ly k o n r a d

Everyone’s got an opinion, right? If there’s something you want to learn to do, chances are someone has written about it—from knitting to nok hockey. Here are eight books that are best in class when it comes to instructional know-how.

waNt to write?

Need a recipe?

On Writing Stephen King it’s the i Ching on the writing process for just about anyone who likes to write. doesn’t matter that it’s from the master of the horror genre—he knows of what he speaks.

50 Ways to Cook Everything Andrew Schloss and Ken Bookman this is a go-to cookbook that’s great for those last-minute, “you thought i was making dinner?” kind of moments.

ready to get orgaNized?

your college kid Needs some cred?

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity David Allen i know people who swear by this book and quote from it religiously. if i could only find where i put my copy…

How to Find an Internship Eric Woodard published earlier this year, the author created and managed internship programs for both the White House and the U.S. Senate. i have a feeling he knows what he’s talking about.

Need to teach someoNe a few maNNers?

how to make a match oNliNe…

How Not to Be A Dick: An Everyday Etiquette Guide Meghan Doherty it’s not just witty—it’s straight-up accurate and speaks to today’s young adults in a way that they understand. it’s also hilarious. and funny is always a great teacher.

wheN you Need to make your owN hootch…

The Kings County Distillery Guide to Urban Moonshining: How to Make and Drink Whiskey David Haskell i sniff an up-and-coming trend here. Say buh-bye to the home beer-brew kit in favor of the next “in” item to diy: proprietary whiskey.

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Data, A Love Story: How I Cracked the Online Dating Code to Meet My Match Amy Webb if you’re out there scrolling and still haven’t found your match, this is the story for you. Words of advice and encouragement borne of a success story.

how to get your 15 miNutes…

How to Get on Reality TV: How a Normal Guy Got Cast on Reality TV Dan Cheesling the author not only got cast on “big brother 10,” he won it—and he’s sharing his tips with you. and if you ever run in to the kardashians on set, please ask them what is really going on with bruce.

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music by val dust in the wind by va l h a l l e r o f va l s l i s t

I’m the only gIrl In an all-male household. My four sons and husband love new technology. For years they’d pout on long car trips when I’d make them unplug to look out the window.

They’d grunt and grab the remote out of my hand when I’d complain, “I can’t even turn on the TV!” They’d chuckle at the dinner table when I’d ask how to work my new phone.

When it comes to technology, here is my personal point of view (and I think many of you may relate): New technology is happening at the speed of light. Unnecessary new products (and copycat items) are invented at the speed of sound. You and me? Dust in the wind.

But sometimes, enough is enough.

Simpler is better. That’s what I’ve been doing for the past six years with my music site Valslist.com. We do everything for you so you don’t have to know how. We keep up with the newest artists. We hand-pick the best new music. We create playlists we think you need for workout, for your nap, for your car. I’m a mom-music person. I’ll take care of you.

Here’s a brand-new playlist I think you’ll like, called “A Getaway” 1. “Come back to Me“

by Keith Urban 2. “secondhander” by Skyes 3. “let the fireflies fly away”

by Mark Mulcahy 4. “feel i bring” by Aer 5. “hey Now” by London Grammar 6. “Candy bar” by Cymbals 7. “love affair” by John Splithoff

8. “love that Conquers”

by The Swell Season 9. “Whale” by Yellow Ostrich 10. “Commentators” by City and Colour 11. “in response” by Peter Wolf Crier 12. “Kings and Queens”

by Mister Wives

APRIL SHOWS NOT TO MISS: april 4

april 11

loNDoN GraMMar at Metro (quiet, hip songstress—brand new)

sharoN JoNes & the DaP KiNGs at the vic theatre (high-energy R&B show)

april 5

april 11

valslist house Concert — arK life (want to be on the guest list? email me: val@ valslist.com)

CaroliNe sMith at schubas (valslist favorite artist!) april 19

april 10

Jay farrar at City Winery (fun date night)

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MasoN JeNNiNGs at sPaCe (grab another couple and go)

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EntErtainmEnt | theatre

Road Show

“Dance” hit the London stage in 2012, a critic for the Telegraph called it “spectacularly bleak yet curiously bracing.” Now, Henry Wishcamper (the guiding force behind Goodman Theatre shows including “Animal Crackers”) is directing the U.S. premiere— quite a coup for this Glencoe company.

The GreaT GoD Pan April 3 – May 11 | Next Theatre, 927 Noyes St., Evanston | 847-475-1875 | nexttheatre.org Two years ago, Kimberly Senior directed playwright Amy Herzog’s “After the Revolution” for this Evanston company. Now, she’s staging this Midwest premiere of another drama by Herzog, who explores the mysterious nature of human memory and how it shapes us in the present moment. The protagonist of “The Great God Pan” has a beautiful girlfriend, a new job and loving parents, but his life is shaken when a possible childhood trauma comes to light.

Moby Dick

but this month’s noteworthy plays have a dark tinge.

Death will come dancing at Writers Theatre, while the past disturbs a young man at Next. Elsewhere, a sea captain’s obsessive quest will drive him toward destruction. But it won’t be all doom and gloom—hope springs eternal at the theater.

It may fInally be sprIng,

The Dance of DeaTh April 1 – July 20 | Writers Theatre at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Ave., Glencoe | 847-242-6000 writerstheatre.org The title of Swedish playwright August Strindberg’s 1900 drama about a crumbling marriage is a dead giveaway: This isn’t going to be a lightweight frolic. This new version is by Conor McPherson, the masterful Irish author of plays including “Port Authority,” which Writers Theatre staged this past winter. When McPherson’s version of Strindberg’s

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roaD Show Through May 4 | Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago | 312-595-5600 | chicagoshakes.com “Gypsy” is bowing out (scheduled to end its Chicago Shakespeare run in late March), but Gary Griffin’s double feature of Stephen Sondheim isn’t over.

Griffin is also directing “Road Show,” a lesser-known Sondheim musical, in the intimate space at this Navy Pier theater. Michael Aaron Lindner and Andrew Rothenberg play the charismatic Mizner brothers, who wheel and deal their way from the Alaskan gold rush of the late 1800s to the Florida real estate boom of the 1920s.

photo By michaEl Brosilow

By roBErt loEr zEl

April 25 – May 4 | Northwestern University’s Ethel M. Barber Theater, 30 Arts Circle Dr., Evanston | 847491-7282 | communication.northwestern.edu/tic/ Northwestern University productions star talented students, but they’re also worthwhile because experienced and innovative faculty members are at the helm.

Visiting assistant professor David Catlin, a Lookingglass ensemble member who recently directed “The Little Prince” at that theater, is staging his new adaptation of Herman Melville’s classic novel about Captain Ahab and his maniacal quest for that elusive white whale. And he’s doing it with help from Evanston’s Actors Gymnasium, taking advantage of their highflying aerial acrobatics and physical style of storytelling.

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Relay for Life 847-317-0025 | relayforlife.org/wilmettewinnetkaIL Relay for Life is looking for volunteers to help plan or participate in its upcoming June event. Join the event planning committee or start a fundraising team for the event to raise funds to support the American Cancer Society. Relay for Life is an overnight community fundraising walk held annually in more than 5,000 communities across 20 countries. Its beneficiary, the American Cancer Society, is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. You can also get involved by donating money or items for use in a silent auction or as giveaways. Donations can be dropped at the local American Cancer Society office at 100 Tri-State International, Suite 125, in Lincolnshire.

For more information on volunteer or fundraising opportunities, email Karina Ogawa at Karina.Ogawa@ cancer.org.

HELP DEVELOP EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Howard Area Community Center 773-262-6622 | howardarea.org Howard Area Community Center is requesting donations for an online auction for its annual Spring Fling. All types of donations are desired, including restaurant gift cards, sports tickets, children’s clothing, getaways and special events.

The annual Spring Fling, scheduled for April 11 at Valley Lo Club in Glenview, benefits HACC’s mission to assist low-income individuals and families in Rogers Park and adjacent communities.

By giving residents the tools to stabilize their lives and develop necessary social skills, HACC helps individuals grow to become effective community members. All donations are tax deductible and can be dropped off at 7648 N. Paulina St., Chicago.

For more information, email haccgala2014@gmail. com.

GIVE TEENAGERS A SAFE SPACE

Pederson-McCormick Boys and Girls Club 773-271-8400 | mccormick.bgcc.org Donate new items or gift cards to facilitate the renovation of a teen lounge at the Pederson-McCormick Boys and Girls Club. The center is funding an overhaul of its club to create a more welcoming space to invite teens inside and off the streets. The mission of Pederson-McCormick Boys and Girls Club is to enable all adolescents, especially those who need help most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. Drop off donations at 4835 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, between 12 and 8 p.m. For more information or to schedule a specific drop-off time, call 773-2718400 ext. 4302 or email kspecial@bgcc.org.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF RELAY FOR LIFE

WALK TO FIGHT CANCER

CHANGE THE WAY CHILDREN WITH CANCER SEE THEMSELVES

Flashes of Hope 847-867-7604 | flashesofhope.org Flashes of Hope is collecting donations for its Bag Lady Luncheon, a fundraiser to benefit its mission to change the way children with cancer see themselves. Requested items include: new and gently used designer handbags, totes, wallets, belts, scarves, vintage jewelry and sunglasses, as well as unique fashion experiences. Flashes of Hope strives to give children with cancer a new self-image through the gift of photography and raises funds to accelerate a cure for children’s cancer. More than 250 attendees will bid on designer handbags, luxury items and unique experiences at the Bag Lady Luncheon, September 10 at the Skokie Country Club in Glencoe. For more information, email Barrie Dekker at barrie@flashesofhope. org or call 847-867-7604.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEDERSON-MCCORMICK BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB

BY CO CO K E E VA N

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mAkE A DIFFERENCE

SUPPORT INNOVATIVE SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago 312-238-6025 | ric.org The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago is requesting donations to further its mission to provide the highest quality patient care. Through integrated research, scientific discovery and education, RIC is working to maximize the recovery of its patients. RIC—ranked the #1 Rehabilitation Hospital in America since 1991

by U.S. News & World Report—is at the forefront of the rapid expansion of biomedical science, pioneering cutting-edge technology and research. Donations may be sent to Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Institutional Advancement, 345 E. Superior St., O-814, Chicago. For more information, visit ric.org/ advancement.

HELP FOSTER FEMALE EXCELLENCE IN THE CULINARY ARTS

Les Dames d’Escoffier info@lesdameschicago.org | lesdameschicago.org Help promote a healthier society by supporting Les Dames d’Escoffier International’s mission to educate and celebrate women in the culinary arts.

Les Dames is the only organization of its kind: a worldwide philanthropic society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality. Les Dames partners with major businesses and philanthropic organizations to

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advance educational opportunities for deserving young talent, increase awareness of women’s achievements in the hospitality industry, help the hungry and underprivileged, and support programs that educate children about food and nutrition. Since 1982, the Chicago chapter has raised more than $500,000 for community outreach, including scholarships, grants, educational facilities and food banks.

For more information, email Jennifer Lamplough, chapter president, at info@lesdameschicago.org.

OPEN THE WORLD OF WORDS TO TEENAGERS

Literature for All of Us 847-869-7323 | literatureforallofus.org Become a partner in bringing the world of words to adolescents. Literature for All of Us requests monetary donations to further its goal to turn young people into independent readers. By promoting the idea that reading can be fun, Literature for All of Us brings the rewards of reading and writing to teen parents and other young people in underserved neighborhoods through book discussions and poetry writing exercises. The organization develops family literacy by providing children’s literature and child development resources to teen parents. Donate online or by phone. To make a donation by mail, send a check to the organization at 2010 Dewey Ave., Evanston, IL, 60201. For a full list of ways to give, visit literatureforallofus.org/support/give.

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE | better makers

BETTER MAKERS AND THEIR IMPACT 1

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LITERATURE FOR ALL OF US

SHOWN IN PHOTOS: (1) Honorary Co-Chairs Willie and Irma Pickens of Chicago, Elliott Jones, Karen Thomson and Board Member Linda Stevenson, all of Evanston; (2) Founder and Executive Director Karen Thomson of Evanston and Board CoChair Angela Valavanis of Evanston; (3) Board Member Debbie Smith with husband Paul of Highland Park; (4) Council Member Susan Kaden with husband Jonathan of Highland Park; (5) IMPACT: Brittany Reed and Diamond Curtis of Second Chance Alternative High School hold up photo cubes made as part of the Body Project self-esteem curriculum.

Make It Better was the media sponsor of this event.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF LITERATURE FOR ALL OF US

WORDplay Gala February 8, 2014 The Standard Club, Chicago $90,000 raised

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Y.O.U. EVANSTON

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43rd Annual Dinner February 22, 2014 Evanston Golf Club $300,000 raised

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF Y.O.U.

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SHOWN IN PHOTOS: (1) Co-Chair Nicki Pearson, Board member Linda Blakley and Derrick Blakley of Evanston; (2) Chuck Lewis, Mary Finnegan, Penny Sebring and Executive Director Seth Green, all of Evanston; (3) Suzanne Whiting, Brian Whiting and Lucinda Fox, all of Evanston; (4) IMPACT: Y.O.U. Evanston provides services to support youth academically, socially and emotionally.

ACT IMP

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INFANT WELFARE SOCIETY OF EVANSTON

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF INFANT WELFARE SOCIETY OF EVANSTON

Warm Your Palate February 27, 2014 Now We’re Cookin’, Evanston $27,000 raised

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SHOWN IN PHOTOS: (1) Board member Marsha Richman of Evanston; (2) Chef and Owner of Terra American Bistro David Perlick; (3) Farmhouse Evanston chef Eric Mansavage; (4) Impact: Infant Welfare Society of Evanston (IWSE) works to mitigate some of the stress of parenting by making quality early childhood education available to all children.

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NORTH SHORE WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BOARD OF THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

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GIRLS IN THE GAME

Field of Dreams Gala February 20, 2014 Marriott, Chicago $250,000 raised SHOWN IN PHOTOS: (1) Hedy Ratner and Girls in the Game recipients of The Hedy Scholarship; (2) Holly Hayes and Carl Stern of Kenilworth; (3) Robin Lindberg of Wauconda, Kim Holmes of Mundelein, Sally Pitts of Chicago; (4) IMPACT: Girls in the Game promotes sports and fitness opportunities, nutrition and health education and leadership development to enhance the overall well-being of girls.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF GIRLS IN THE GAME

SHOWN IN PHOTOS: (1) Robin Doerge and Angie Campolo, both of Winnetka; (2) Monica Thuet of Glenview, Peggy Hopkins of Glenview, Kristen Huber of Winnetka, Shawn Sandor of Winnetka, Becky Kadel of Glenview, Ann Noone of Glenview; (3) Co-Chair Shannon Weasler of Glenview, author Kelly Corrigan of San Francisco, Co-Chair Megan Galante of Glenview; (4) Andrea Hurteau and Liz Kohler, both of Winnetka

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARY BETH BROCCOLO OF NORTHFIELD

Kelly Corrigan Glitter and Glue Book Review February 26, 2014 Sunset Ridge Country Club, Northfield $7,500 raised

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES

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CATHOLIC CHARITIES

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dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Vine Affair January 26, 2014 Union League Club of Chicago $95,000 raised SHOWN IN PHOTOS: (1) Lisa Meers of Lake Forest, Jean and Joe Imperato of Northbrook, Kim Kacyn of Lake Forest; (2) Jason and Michelle Gans of Highland Park; (3) Brad Cote and Deb McMahon of Evanston; (4) IMPACT: Metropolitan Family Services offers early childhood education programs, including arts programming.

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local treasure

Mike Borkowski (left) with his family.

Lurie Children’s Hospital

Step Up for KidS of LUrie ChiLdren’S hoSpitaL By co co K e e va n By the time mike Borkowski was 13, he’d undergone two open-heart surgeries to open and replace his damaged aortic valve.

Born with aortic valve stenosis, a condition that prevents the steady flow of blood from the heart to the body, Borkowski, now 18, has spent lengthy periods of time in the intensive care unit at Lurie Children’s Hospital.

The Denison University freshman, a pitcher on the school’s baseball team, attributes his ability to thrive to the staff at Lurie Children’s Hospital. To show his gratitude, Borkowski volunteered during summers in the hospital’s cardiology department, and in 2011, he organized his first team for Step Up for Kids to raise money to benefit the hospital’s new heart center.

The annual Aon Step Up for Kids event is a stair climb to the top of the Aon Center, the city’s third tallest building. With 80 floors and 1,643 steps, it’s a taxing physical test for a good cause; proceeds from the event benefit the fundraising efforts of K.I.D.S.S. for Kids, an affiliated organization of Lurie Children’s Hospital.

Borkowski, sister Natasha and a full team of supporters, friends and family completed their fourth Step Up for Kids in January with their team, And the Beat

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Goes On…, which raised more than $12,000 this year.

“Thirty years ago, kids like Mike did not survive,” wrote Borkowski’s father, Michael, in an email to Step Up for Kids fundraisers. “Now, thanks to Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, he receives top-notch care.”

The Lurie Children’s Hospital acts as a haven for the families of its patients. Eight-year-old Kathleen Conzemius spent half of her first four years in and out of the hospital with a single-ventricle heart defect, and her parents credit the hospital’s Family Services Department for making their painful experience as comfortable as possible. “The power of family-centric care for frequent-flyer parents really was key,” says mother Tegwen Conzemius. “It made the hospital not so scary.”

“After her recovery, we really had a new child,” Conzemius shares. “I don’t think she knew what it felt like to feel good. The other day she was talking about how her ‘old’ heart kept her from doing certain things.

Then she said, ‘This new heart is great. It‘s a keeper!’”

Kathleen and her family support Step Up for Kids because they credit Lurie Children’s Hospital with making their experience as smooth and positive as possible.

“Family Services is an emotional as well as physical support to families,” Conzemius says. “They try to brighten a child’s day in any way that they can, but it’s also a very important outlet for parents. They can give so much mental support to families. Family Services helped coach us through all of our questions.”

For Borkowski, so many of his formative years were shaped by constant trips to Lurie Children’s Hospital. Now, with the expertise of the hospital at his disposal, Borkowski is being afforded the best cutting-edge care and is able to lead an active life.

“Most adult cardiologists and surgeons do not have the expertise or the training to treat young adults like Mike,” says Mike’s mother, Denise, Make It Better’s Director of Community Development. “We know another surgery is inevitable. Most heart programs do not have heart specialists who treat adults yet are trained in pediatric congenital heart diseases. Lurie Children’s is on the leading edge of this approach. We are so lucky to have this world-class hospital in Chicago.”

Lurie ChiLdren’s hospitaL By the numBers

• 149,000 patients helped annually, from neonates to young adults • 130 years of cutting-edge medical care • served children from 49 states and 34 countries in 2012 • 1,245 physicians in 70 pediatric specialties

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CLOSING THOUGHTS

H O O S I E R M A M A P I E ’ S PAU L A H A N E Y T E L L S U S :

For Paula’s Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie recipe, download our iPad edition at makeitbetter.net/ipad

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PHOTO BY BRITT ANDERSON

“You can’t make good pie with bad produce!

Take advantage of Chicago’s great farmer’s markets and ask your favorite farmer for recommendations.”

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Don’t miss the EXCLUSIVE articles and prizes in this month’s iPad edition:

ENTER TO WIN: One of Three $50 Gift Cards to Oceanique!

READ MORE: Movies: You’ve Got to Be Startin’ Somethin’ • 4 Beauty How-Tos That Make Life Easier Recipe: Chicken Paprikash • How to Make the Perfect Salad • Recipe: Hoosier Mama’s Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

download at makeitbetter.net/ipad or search “Make It Better” in the App Store

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