Make It Better June/July 2015

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CHICAGO AND NORTH SHORE

CHICAGO AND NORTH SHORE

PLUS: FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE 3 MUST-TRY CHICAGO STAYCATIONS 5 KIDS DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS A LOOK INSIDE: DESIGNERS’ DREAM HOME

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BANGERS AND LACE Turn to page 77

FEATURES

PHOTO BY ERIC KLEINMAN

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Summer Go Guide: 99 Days of Summer

By Anna Carlson

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Going Places: 5 Kids Doing Extraordinary Things

By Christy Coughlin, Cortney Fries, Heidi Moore and Jenny Muslin

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Beat the Crowds: Up-and-Coming Vacation Spots to Visit Now

By Amber Gibson

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A Look Inside: Designers’ Dream Home

By Tate Gunnerson

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Launch Fashion Show: Driving Fashion Forward

By Genevieve Lill

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Hot Flash: Summer Fashions

By Evangeline Politis

Cover concept by Elizabeth Dziersk

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Chicago’s Luxury Shopping Destination Join the Oak Street Council and Make It Better

Thursday, June 18 10am-8pm

Oak Street Summer Shop-Around - Benefiting the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago champagne toasts | fashion shows | live music | gifts with purchase | tequila tastings special food offerings | luxury raffle | and more!

Register at oakstreetshoparound.eventbrite.com and receive one FREE raffle ticket.

More info at www.oakstreetchicago.com/summershoparound The Oak Street Shopping Direct in Chicago is bordered by Michigan Avenue to the east and State Street to the west. Valet parking is available at 57 E. Oak Street.

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DEPARTMENTS 20

FAMILY

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Fighting Back from a Post-Natal Stroke

By Cortney Fries

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3 Must-Try Chicago Staycations

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Outdoor Kitchen Trends

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How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Spoiled

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Deck–ed Out Dad: Father’s Day Gift Guide

By Donna Bozzo

By Pamela Rothbard

By Meghan Streit

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By Amber Gibson

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Hit the Road: Family Road Trip Tips

By Pamela Rothbard

A BETTER YOU

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Double-Duty Cosmetics: 6 Products You Need in Your Bag Right Now

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

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By Belinda Lichty Clarke

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Beachy-Keen Hair

Chicago High School for the Arts

By Jenny Muslin

The Winnetka Club

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Biking Through Barriers

EcoMyths

By Christy Coughlin

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The Midwest Regional Office of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF

The Upside of an Empty Nest

The American Red Cross

By Marjie Killeen

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

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Summer Reading List for You and Your Teen

By Kelly Konrad

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Bangers and Lace: New American Pub Fare in Downtown Evanston

By Julie Chernoff

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Family-Friendly Restaurants Parents and Kids Will Love

By Pamela Rothbard

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Better Makers and Their Impact

Summer Stage

By Robert Loerzel

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Parenting 101

By Jenny Muslin

IN EVERY ISSUE

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Editor’s Letter You Said It Fresh Make It Better Column Give Time, Give Things, Give Support Closing Thoughts

Correction: We mistakenly printed the location of Austin and Pamela Rothbard’s home in our May issue. They reside in Glencoe, not Wilmette. We regret the error.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

As this issue closes, I will have wrapped my first five weeks as the new Editor in Chief, stepping into the large shoes that outgoing EIC, Julie Chernoff, has left me to fill (luckily, Julie will continue to be involved with MIB as our Dining Editor).

While I’m not a Chicagoland native, I do have roots in the area: My dad hails from Winnetka, my mom grew up in Chicago, and—while I was raised in Wisconsin—I was brought up a devoted Bulls, Bears and Cubs fan (and let me tell you, it’s tough being a Chicago sports fan in Cheesehead Country).

I am also a proud Northwestern University alumna. After graduating from Medill in 2003, I moved to New York, where I earned my digital media chops helping to build a successful women’s website before moving back to Chicago several years ago to be closer to family.

GREETINGS, READERS!

BY GENEVIEVE LILL

Shortly after moving here, my mother-in-law told me about this great magazine she’d been reading called Make It Better and suggested that I look into writing for it. Being a busy, working mom, I never got around to sending a pitch letter, though I remembered the title. And so, I was familiar when my good friend (writer Rachel Bertsche) told me MIB was looking for a new EIC and that she thought I’d be a great fit. I connected with Susan and Mindy soon after and—thankfully—they agreed!

I was fortunate to join MIB in time to attend the 3rd Annual Philanthropy Awards event in April. If you do nothing else this month, visit MAKEITBETTER.NET/PHILANTHROPYAWARDS to watch the videos and learn more about eight award-winning nonprofits that are making the world a better place. Prepare to be inspired!

And now MIB is making it easier than ever to give back. We just re-launched our Shop For Good e-commerce platform, which provides 10% of each purchase made to a deserving nonprofit. Visit MAKEITBETTER.NET/SHOP to get some retail therapy and give to a worthy cause at the same time.

Make sure you don’t miss Make It Better’s “99 Days of Summer” events guide (page 20), which features one great event each day of the summer.

View the complete listing at MAKEITBETTER.NET/99DAYS And, finally, as a mother, I’m particularly excited to present an issue that celebrates kids, from the stories of five young people doing extraordinary things (“Going Places,” page 33) to road trip advice (“Family Road Trip Tips,” page 66), the best places to dine out with little ones (“Family Friendly,” page 78) and more.

Enjoy this jam-packed issue and the start of your summer!

MONEY RAISED FOR NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS: $4,082,508

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What clients are saying about Team Mangel reviews on Zillow, @properties, and Trulia

They have unlimited energy and patience - we must have looked at 3-4 dozen homes. -Kenilworth

Easy to reach and supremely responsive - nights, weekends -didn’t matter – Kenilworth

Extremely accessible and supportive throughout the process since they understand how stressful it can be. –Wilmette

Team Mangel are the best realtors on the North Shore, hands down.

They really know the market and how to get potential buyers in the door.

They simply are the best...- Winnetka

Very professional, yet personal approach to the business. -Winnetka

KATHRYN BADER MANGEL, CRS 847.372.5801

Team Mangel rocks! –Kenilworth

KELLY O’CONNELL MANGEL 847.910.2621

K2@TEAMMANGEL.COM | TEAMMANGEL.COM 2 0 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 , 2 0 1 3 AWA R D W I N N E R S : $ 2 0 M I L L I O N D O L L A R P R O D U C E R S | # 1 T E A M I N K E N I LW O R T H * * *BrokerMetrics® from 2005-2014. **#1 Kenilworth team represents MRED top sales volume as a team in Kenilworth from 1/1/2011 – 12/31/2014.

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ONLINE

OUR BETTER HALF IS ONLINE:

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your vote is important! best of 2015 voting is now open!

It’s time once again for your voice to be heard! Vote for your favorite restaurants, stores, attractions and more in Chicago and on the North Shore.

Last year, more than 90,000 votes were cast and we can’t wait to see who wins in 2015. Voting closes June 15.  MAKEITBETTER.NET/BESTOFVOTE

5 podcasts you’ll love if you loved “Serial” Planning a road trip this summer? It’s the perfect time to delve into a new podcast series, especially if you’re in “Serial” withdrawal. Here are five podcasts that will keep you intrigued until Adnan Syed’s story continues. For more road trip tips, flip to page 66.  MAKEITBETTER.NET/PODCASTS

4 TED talks that will change the way you think about charity Stay motivated this summer with four TED Talks that tackle the topic of giving back. Hear from Nancy Frates, the mom who started the Ice Bucket Challenge; Dan Pallotta, an entrepreneur and activist who says the way we think about charity is wrong; and more inspiring individuals.

what’s hot on makeitbetter.net BEAUTY

5 Minutes to a More Beautiful You RECIPES

The Zen of Slow Cooking: Curried Cauliflower Soup FASHION

Secrets of a Stylist ORGANIZATION

7 Days to Completely Organize Your Home OUTINGS & TRAVEL

5 Active Adventures That Combine Fitness and Pleasure

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“free fridays” are back!

Follow us on Facebook (FACEBOOK.COM/ MAKEITBETTER.NET), Twitter and Instagram (both @MAKEITBETTERNS) for a chance to score free giveaways like restaurant gift certificates, cookbooks, theatre and sports tickets, and more.

TED TALKS PHOTO BY STEVE JURVETSON

 MAKEITBETTER.NET/ TED

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WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, SO PLEASE KEEP SENDING US YOUR STORIES, COMMENTS, OPINIONS, IDEAS AND REVIEWS! FACEBOOK

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Make It Better

Thanks for all the emails, letters, tweets and Facebook messages this month! Here’s what you had to say: “Just meeting with Wendy DuBoe, CEO of United Way Metro Chicago, and she just told me how much she loves Make It Better. She hired her wedding planner, Megan Estrada, as a result of your listing her as the best wedding planner of the year! Thought you would want to hear how such a high-profile woman CEO talks about your publication!!!”

—Emilia DiMenco, President and Chief Executive Officer, Women’s Business Development Center

In response to...

Do’s and More Do’s: The Tastiest Donuts in Town (May 2015) “We tried Glazed and Infused last week. Delicious! Would love to see some suburb recommendations so I don’t have to go to the city for these delicious treats!”

—Kirsten Maxwell “Try Tom’s Pastry at 830 Sheridan (strip mall towards Highwood)!”

—Sue Eilert Johnson “Now THIS is what I’m talkin about!”

—Charlotte McGee EDITOR’S RESPONSE: Bennison’s Bakery in Evanston has great donuts; for the burbs, I’d opt for Deerfield Bakery in Deerfield and Buffalo Grove, and Spunky Dunkers in Arlington Heights.”

—Julie Chernoff, Dining Editor

“I also wanted to thank you again for hosting the lovely coffee for Jennifer [Siebel Newsom] when we were in town. We have been in touch with so many people in the North Chicago area since then about screenings and getting the curriculum into local schools— including Bernard Rocca and the YMCA. It’s really exciting to see the ripple effect in the Chicago area!”

—Michelle Goering , Senior Distribution Associate, The Representation Project

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588 Lincoln Ave. Winnetka, IL, 60093 | 847-256-4642 Publisher & Co-CEO Susan B. Noyes Co-CEO Mindy Fauntleroy Associate Publisher Michelle Morris Editor In Chief Managing Editor Digital Editor Philanthropy Editor

Genevieve Lill Meghan Streit Anna Carlson Maura Flaherty

Art Director Lesley Smith Designer Melissa Johnston Beauty Editor Dining Editor Fashion Editor Finance Editor Fitness Editor Home Editor Senior Living Editor Sex & the Suburbs Editor

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

Contributing Writers Donna Bozzo Belinda Litchy Clarke Cortney Fries Amber Gibson Kelly Konrad Robert Loerzel Heidi Moore Pamela Rothbard Digital Marketing Editor Laura Levy Shatkin Photographers Natalie Hartung Linda MacLennen David Sutton Design Intern Jessica Van De Loo Editorial Intern Julia Rotunno Chief Operating Officer Sandy Tsuchida Ad Sales Manager Megan Holbrook Senior Account Executives Patti Augustyn Julie Carter Account Executive Denise Borkowski Executive Sales Planner Haley Hughes Director of Videography Katy Nielsen GOT FEEDBACK? Email susan@makeitbetter.net TO ADVERTISE: Contact michellemorris@makeitbetter.net HAVE AN EVENT? Email anna@makeitbetter.net

Make It Better North Shore (ISSN No. 2151-0431) is published 7 times per year by Make It Better LLC, 588 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka, IL 60093. Phone: 847.256.4642. Copyright 2015 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 2015 by Make It Better LLC. All rights reserved.

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W H AT ’ S N E W

BY ANNA CARLSON AND JULIE CHERNOFF

Shop Londo Mondo in Winnetka

World of Chocolate

The new Cocoa + Co. was born of owner Kim Hack’s obsession with chocolate. Hack, a longtime food industry professional, feels that cacao beans—like grapes—have a distinct terroir, a sense of place. At her new Old Town store, you’ll find freshly baked creations from celebrity chefs Malika Ameen and Gale Gand; the work of 35 artisanal chocolatiers from around the globe (including the astounding Recchiuti Confections from San Francisco and London’s Artisan du Chocolat); coffee, tea and decadent drinking chocolates and a plethora of packaged goods to tempt the palate—and the sweet tooth.

COCOA + CO. : 1651 N. Wells St., Chicago, cocoaandco.com—JC

Little Beans. Big Fun.

This indoor playground gives kids a chance to let their imaginations run wild. Little Beans (ages 0-6 years) can roam around the Little Beans Village, complete with a ranger station, general store, vet center and tree house. Big Beans (ages 5-12 years) have access to the Ninja Warrior obstacle course and karaoke performance room. And don’t forget to stop by the cafe for Intelligentsia Coffee or lunch.

In a rush? Swing by the drive-thru for coffee and milkshakes.

LITTLE BEANS CAFÉ: 430 Asbury Ave., Evanston, 847-807-3731, littlebeanscafe.com/Evanston—AC

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See Forever Om Yoga’s New Space

Get your yoga on at Forever Om Yoga’s beautiful new space in Lake Forest. The studio is within walking distance of the Lake Forest Metra stop and Market Square, making it easy to access and meet up with friends after class. Forever Om Yoga offers a variety of classes, including Rise & Shine, Athlete Recovery and Candlelight Flow, perfect for any ability level. Namaste! FOREVER OM YOGA: 828 N. Western Ave., Lake Forest, 847-482-9642, foreveromyoga.com—AC

LITTLE BEANS CAFE PHOTO BY EVA HO PHOTOGRAPHY; ALL OTHER PHOTOS COURTESY OF EACH BUSINESS

You no longer have to go to the city to shop Londo Mondo. The popular store has expanded to the North Shore and owner Carrie Londe says the Winnetka location will offer resort and lifestyle wear, in addition to casual and formal clothing options. Londo Mondo also carries handmade jewelry created by local designers, and fashion from brands like Becca, Lucky and Lenny. LONDO MONDO: 558 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, 224-255-6466, londomondo.com—AC

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BY ANNA CARLSON

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#CHICAGOSUMMER EVENTS

Stay up to date on all the happenings.  MAKEITBETTER.NET/99DAYS

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EVENTS

Warm weather is back, and so is our 99 Days of Summer.

Filled with new museum exhibits, wine tastings, concerts, festivals, kid-friendly activities and more, you’ll find something fun to do every day between Memorial Day and Labor Day. We’ve even suggested a few events that will take you out of town. However you decide to spend these warm days and evenings ahead, we’re hoping this will be your best summer yet.

For a complete list of events, visit MAKEITBETTER.NET/99DAYS

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Chagall for Children Opens June 3 | Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview kohlchildrensmuseum.org Kohl’s newest exhibit introduces children to the work of Marc Chagall. The exhibit features 14 multi-sensory exploration stations that will allow kids to create flower arrangements, explore light with stained glass, weave a simple tapestry and more.

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Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever June 5 | Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont | wnba. com/sky The reigning WNBA Eastern Conference Champions open their 2015 season against Indiana. The team will host special events throughout the summer, including Pride Night (June 30), African American Heritage Night (July 21) and Breast Health Awareness Night (August 7 and 9).

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MB Financial Open Bags Night Begins June 1 | MB Financial Park, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont rosemont.com/mbfinancialpark Make your Mondays a little more fun with this weekly bags competition. Equipment is first-come, first-served and available for those who bring a photo ID. Open Bags Night runs through Sept. 27.

JUNE

Milwaukee Art Museum’s Free First Thursday June 4 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee | mam.org Take a quick road trip and enjoy free admission to the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Then, make a day of it by exploring all the dining, shopping and entertainment options the city has to offer.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN

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Redhead Days Festival June 6-7 | City Hall Park, 17 Highwood Ave., Highwood | facebook. com/RHDchicago Calling all redheads! The Redhead Days Festival originated in Breda, Holland, and is coming to the U.S. for the first time ever.

Walk through Highwood as you shop ginger gear, drinks and goodies, participate in the Carrot Cake Contest or join the largest photo of redheads assembled together in the country.

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“Ithamar Has Nothing to Say” Begins June 12 | Donny’s Skybox Theatre in The Second City Training Center, 1616 N. Wells St., Chicago | secondcity.com Second City alum Ithamar Enriquez is back in Chicago with a silent one-man comedy show. Yes, silent. Enriquez’ TV credits include “Arrested Development,” “The Office” and “Law and Order,” and this sketch show just finished a sold-out run at Second City Hollywood.

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Old Town Art Fair 13 June 13-14 | Old Town Triangle District, Chicago | oldtowntriangle. com/old-town-art-fair This art fair is one of the top fine arts fairs in the country, displaying the work of 250 artists (more than 100 of which are new to the fair in 2015) in the beautiful tree-lined Old Town Triangle neighborhood. As you shop and meet with artists, enjoy live music, kids activities and a food court. And don’t miss the Garden Walk through this historic area.

PHOTO BY LAURA E MEYER

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN

JUNE

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#CHICAGOSUMMER

Judy Blume June 17 | Francis W. Parker School, 2233 N. Clark St., Chicago | chicagohumanities.org Beloved author Judy Blume is back with her latest novel, “In the Unlikely Event,” available June 2. This book was inspired by a three-month period during Blume’s childhood in which multiple passenger airplanes crashed in Elizabeth, N.J. JUNE

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Little Brushes Camp June 15-19 | Pinot’s Palette, 2011 Tower Drive, Glenview | pinotspalette.com/theglen Have a budding artist in the family? Then register for this camp and get their creative juices flowing. Kids ages 7 to 12 will spend the morning painting with a professional artist who has specialized in children’s art education, before breaking for lunch and then completing a unique craft in the afternoon. You can sign up for the entire week or just one day.

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Summer Brain Games Begins June 22 | Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago | msichicago.org/programs/ summer-brain-games Avoid the summer slide without even leaving your home. The Museum of Science and Industry’s eight-week Summer Brain Games program is back and provides free science experiments you can do in your own backyard. Register and you’ll receive a voucher for one free admission ticket to the museum.

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Millennium Park Summer Film Series June 23 | Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago | choosechicago.com You now have something to do every Tuesday night this summer. Pack a picnic, grab a blanket and make your way downtown for a relaxing evening as you watch a classic film or new hit. And to top it all off, it’s free! Visit choosechicago.com for a complete schedule.

Summerfest June 24-28, June 30-July 5 | Milwaukee | summerfest.com The world’s largest music festival has done it again, securing artists like Florida Georgia Line, Kings of Leon, Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran, Bastille, Pat Benatar and Kansas. Oh, and did we mention The Rolling Stones?

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JULY

July 4th Fest July 3-5 | Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee sixflags.com Celebrate Independence Day—and take advantage of some time off—at Six Flags.

The park will be offering exclusive ride time, live music and a Coca-Cola® July 4th zone with a DJ, dance contest and games with prizes. There will also be fireworks all three nights.

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Independence Day Salute July 4 | Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago | grantparkmusicfestival.com Get in the patriotic spirit with this annual concert by the Grant Park Orchestra that’s all about celebrating America’s rich musical history.

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Kane County Cougars’ Frozen Night July 10 | 34W002 Cherry Lane, Geneva | kccougars.com It looks like “Frozen” fever has even hit minor league baseball. Dress up like your favorite character and enjoy a night with the 2014 Midwest League Champions, the Kane Country Cougars. The evening will end with fireworks.

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artfest Michigan Avenue 10 July 10-12 | 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago | amdurproductions.com One of the country’s most popular streets will host a new art festival this summer.

Shop the works of around 100 juried artists, all while enjoying beautiful views of the Chicago River.

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170 artists. You can also enjoy art activities for kids, live jazz and food. The $5 gate donation will benefit the Evanston Chamber of Commerce.

Chicago Fire vs. Columbus Crew SC July 15 | Toyota Park, 7000 Harlem Ave., Bridgeview | chicago-fire.com Get fired up for Chicago Fire soccer this summer on First Responders Appreciation Night. And stick around for fireworks after the game.

Chicago Musical Theatre Festival Begins June 30 | The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago cmtf.org Musical theater fans won’t want to miss this second annual festival featuring the world-premieres of 13 musicals by Chicagoans. Storylines range from a look at the city’s mayoral race to a prom in the 1980s.

Vernon Hills Summer Celebration July 16-19 | Century Park, 1101 Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills | summercel.com These four days will be packed with carnival rides, a bags tournament, fireworks, a car show and children’s activities, including crafts, face painting and magic. Bands will also perform throughout the weekend, including headliner Lonestar.

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Fountain Square Art Festival June 27-28 | Sherman and Church streets, Evanston | chicagoevents.com This is the oldest fine arts fair on the North Shore and features the wares of more than JUNE

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Long Grove Strawberry Fest June 26-28 | Downtown Long Grove visitlonggrove.com Strawberries make any summer day better, something Long Grove merchants and vendors really take to heart. Walk around historic downtown Long Grove while enjoying creative strawberry treats and merchandise from local businesses.

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The Grove Craft Beer & Wine Festival July 17 | The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview thegrovecraftbeerfest.com This brand-new event will offer 70 craft beer and wine options and food from some of Glenview’s best restaurants and food trucks, plus live music. Proceeds will benefit the Grove Heritage Association.

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Nature Connects®: Art with LEGO® Bricks by Sean Kenney July 20 | The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle mortonarb.org This display of LEGO sculptures—which took roughly 4,170 hours (or 173 days) and nearly half a million LEGO bricks to complete—is visiting the Chicago area for the first time. Sculptures range in height from 18 inches to 7 feet and can be found throughout the Arboretum’s east side. The exhibit is free with admission.

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Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Shedd July 22 | Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago sheddaquarium.org The Shedd offers 50-minute, behind-the-scenes tours every day between the last week of June and Labor Day. You’ll visit the animal healthcare center, go behind the galleries, and see how meals are prepared for some of the 32,000 animals that call the Aquarium home.

Interested in the Shark Feeding Tour, Beluga Encounter and Penguin Encounter? Visit sheddaquarium.org for more information.

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Cactus & Succulent Society of Greater Chicago Show & Sale July 25-26 | Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe chicagobotanic.org Browse cacti and succulents while your kids enjoy educational programming by Multidisciplinary Education for the Environment.

When you’re done, go for a walk around the gorgeous garden grounds.

Ravinia, because what’s better than a little food and wine as you kick off your shoes and listen to some of the best bands in the country? And this concert is one you can enjoy with your teens, too.

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Zoo Ball 2015 July 10 | Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago | lpzooball.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHICAGO BOTNATIC GARDEN

Sip & Shop: Uncorked July 23 | Westfield Old Orchard, 4999 Old Orchard Center, Skokie westfield.com/oldorchard Experience fine wines right here on the North Shore. Sample wines and treats while you discover trends in fashion and beauty, or purchase tickets for the VIP After Party on the rooftop. Sip & Shop: Uncorked will also take place June 25.

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Brandi Carlile and Old Crow Medicine Show July 31 | Ravinia, 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park | ravinia.org One of the area’s best summer traditions is J U LY

Ricky Birdsong Memorial Race Against Hate June 21 | Long Field, Evanston ywca.org/RAH2015 Featuring technical “wicking” t-shirts, great giveaway bags, a scenic course along Lake Michigan, fun for the whole family AND a great cause, this is a positive community event you won’t want to miss! It’s a great way to start Father’s Day. JUNE

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CHICAGO BOTNATIC GARDEN

#MAKEADIFFERENCE

HOW TO CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT MASCULINITY— AND WHY IT MATTERS

BY SUSAN B . NOYE S WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING B Y M A U R A F L A H E R T Y A N D K AT Y N I E L S E N

There is an American male identity crisis and Jennifer Siebel Newsom is way ahead of the curve by trying to help—as usual. Her documentary film on the subject, “The Mask You Live In,” premiered to rave reviews in January, first at the Sundance Film Festival and then in the Midwest a few days later through the Family Action Network (FAN).

Startling statistics provide proof of Newsom’s theory: • Skyrocketing numbers of families are without fathers • Twice as many boys than girls suffer from depression • Three times more boys than girls struggle with ADHD • Four times more boys than girls drop out of school

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Domestic violence in the NFL and sexual assault on college campuses provide further evidence that our culture promotes a negative male stereotype.

The first step toward a solution is developing a national dialogue and swaying the conversation. This is what Newsom and the nonprofit she founded, The Representation Project (TRP), do extraordinarily well.

TRP aims to foster healthy social change through media and funnels support from power sources such as Maria Shriver, Abigail Disney, Annenberg Foundation and Novo Foundation.

Newsom is a Stanford MBA, the mother of three young children and the wife of California’s Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom (now candidate for Governor, too). “Miss Representation,” the 2011 award-winning documentary she wrote, directed and produced about how poorly women are portrayed in media, sparked considerable national debate and led to the founding of TRP.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE REPRESENTATION PROJECT

As Newsom explains, the crisis is that our culture does not foster “healthy, whole masculinity…connecting the heads and hearts of boys and men.” Instead, it largely promulgates “be a man, be tough” stereotypes that actually damage healthy development. This is particularly true with sports, video games, the entertainment and advertising industries, and even in schools. Furthermore, the film asserts that society’s current notion of masculinity is a rejection of femininity, which ultimately dehumanizes women.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE REPRESENTATION PROJECT

Jennifer Siebel Newsom Group discussion on masculinity

Newsom takes credit for the improvement of Super Bowl commercials this year. TRP asked their audience to encourage more respect for women by discouraging the sexualization of them. They also encouraged audience talk backs, including tweeting at advertisers such as: • BMW, Lexus, Mercedes • McDonald’s • Pepsi • Go Daddy • Nationwide • and other iconic American brands.

Encouraging healthy masculinity is an important step to building greater respect for women. This is why I urge you to see and discuss “The Mask You Live In” with all the age-appropriate males in your life as well as convince your local school districts and youth empowerment organizations to do the same.

As Newsom says, “People aren’t talking about masculinity now the way they discuss femininity.” Without awareness and discussion, change is difficult.

Learn more about this issue and how you can help make a positive change by watching our MIB TV video interview with Newsom at

MAKEITBETTER.NET/ MASCULINITY

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#INCREDIBLEKIDS FEATURE

GOING PLACES: 5 KIDS DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS

BY CHRIST Y COUGHLIN, CORTNEY FRIES, HEIDI MOORE AND JENNY MUSLIN

PHOTO BY LINDA MACLENNEN

Our list of kids doing extraordinary things could be confused for a morning talk show lineup: two entrepreneurs, a reality-TV star, a documentary filmmaker and an Olympic hopeful. Keep reading to learn more about these local kids and the uncommon paths that their young lives have taken.

Know a kid who’s accomplishing some incredible feats? We’d love to hear about it. Please share your story with us at Facebook.com/makeitbetter.net with the hashtag #incrediblekids Reilly Lanigan, olympic swimming hopeful

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#INCREDIBLEKIDS FEATURE

Lily Born

LILY BORN AND HER KANGAROO CUP

BY HEIDI MOORE

For as long as she can remember, Lily Born, 12, of Skokie has been designing and making things.

She started out “making the most ridiculous inventions in the world,” she recalls—like the “nose pillow,” a tiny pillow for resting one’s nose.

on uneven surfaces such as grass, the sturdy cup is ideal for kids who’ve outgrown sippy cups or anyone prone to spilling. So far more than 11,000 plastic Kangaroo Cups have been pre-ordered.

Then, when Lily was about 8, she noticed that her paternal grandfather’s Parkinson’s disease made him prone to knocking over glasses and spilling his drinks. “I thought he needed something more stable that wouldn’t tip over,” she says.

As for grandpa: “He loves it,” Lily says, noting that it’s now the only cup he uses.

From this realization, the Kangaroo Cup was born. Lily sketched out a few designs for a tip-proof, no-spill cup, eventually settling on a model with three equal-sized legs. (The product name refers to a kangaroo’s use of its tail as a sort of third leg for stability when jumping.)

With encouragement from her dad, Joe Born, a consumer electronics developer, she brought the idea to life. In 2012, thanks to Indiegogo and Kickstarter campaigns that raised a total of about $20,000, Lily introduced her invention to the masses. Under the brand name Imagiroo.com, Lily and Joe released the first Kangaroo Cup, a ceramic version made in China. They’ve sold about 2,000 cups to date.

But the designers weren’t satisfied, so they launched a second Kickstarter campaign in 2014. Now, with more than $62,000 in funding, they’re about to release a BPA-free plastic Kangaroo Cup manufactured in the U.S. The new-and-improved version is stackable and more durable than its predecessor. Designed for use

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Lily’s invention has garnered her national attention. She received the Young Wonder Award at the “CNN Heroes” tribute in 2014 and participated in the 2015 White House Science Fair. Lily also now travels around the country giving presentations as an ambassador with Independent Youth, a nonprofit that empowers teens to become business leaders and entrepreneurs.

“What she’s doing is amazing,” says Tanya Hamilton, Independent Youth’s founder and executive director. “She doesn’t think like a typical kid. She’s aware of all that she’s capable of accomplishing.”

What’s most surprising about all this notoriety is that Lily used to be incredibly shy. “I was the shyest kid in class,” she recalls.

“Then I started the cup and realized this is going to be a big thing, so I’m going to have to get over that.” While she may be less shy, she seems to have retained her humility. Asked whether she envisions herself working as an inventor 20 years from now, Lily replies, “I don’t want to focus too much on that. I would like to be a product designer, but right now I just want to be a kid.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KANGAROO CUP

KIDS

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PARKER KREX OF BRICK LOOT

BY JENNY MUSLIN

Subscription kits are all the rage. But, until now, there hasn’t been one targeted at children who love to build with LEGOs. That all changed when Parker Krex decided to create a subscription “brick” toy kit called Brick Loot (brickloot.com) that supplies kids with new building block toys like Legos on a regular basis. The catch? Krex is only 10 years old.

Upon receiving a subscription box for his birthday, Krex was disappointed to find that it didn’t include toys that appealed to his interests. “I thought it would be awesome to get a box every month filled with LEGO and brick toys, and bam—the idea was born,” says Krex. “Once I came up with the idea, my mom and I wrote a business plan during our annual garage sale. We did a “Shark Tank”-like presentation for my dad to get funding.”

In December 2014, Krex launched the first delivery of Brick Loot, just in time for the holidays. Brick Loot was an instant hit, selling out that first month. With the help of Krex’s mom, all of the marketing for the company has been executed via social media.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRICK LOOT

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KANGAROO CUP

#INCREDIBLEKIDS

my schoolwork first, then help with research or packing. I like being a part of the company meetings and brainstorms, too.”

“It really is so impressive what Parker has done,” notes Krex’s 5th grade teacher, Kelli Levy. “He is so curious about everything and comes up with questions that really challenge ideas being discussed. He looks at issues and comes up with ways of solving things by thinking outside of the box.”

What’s next for the CEO and budding entrepreneur? Krex dreams of one day having the largest brick subscription box company. “In 2015, we’re working on international shipping and growth,” he says. “I’m also just trying to graduate 5th grade!”

A monthly subscription includes a box of unique brick products that Krex has hand-selected from all over the world. One of Krex’s favorite parts of building a business is seeing his customer’s reactions. “People love the box! If you search YouTube, you will see tons of videos of people of all ages opening boxes each month. I love watching them and seeing people's reactions to different products. My friends at school didn’t believe that I had my own company until they saw me on Fox News!”

With the runaway success of the company, Krex has hired one full-time employee to assist with custom kits and packing boxes.

The whole family also gets together on weekends to pack orders for customers. When asked about balancing school and work, Krex explained, “We just moved into a warehouse where I have an office. I can do my homework and be a part of the action. I do

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Ben Lehwald

BEN LEHWALD

BY CORTNEY FRIES

Ben Lehwald of Evanston is the 17-year-old star of ABC Family’s “Becoming Us.” The unscripted docu-series chronicles Lehwald’s life as his parents not only divorce, but his father, Charlie, transitions to a woman, Carly.

Lehwald and his mother, Suzy Crawford, came up with the idea for the show to open eyes and some doors for kids with transgender parents. “If this show helps one teenager,” Lehwald says, “Then hopefully he’ll help someone else.”

Though the show was filmed over the course of three months last fall, the family changes began unfolding four years ago, when Lehwald was in eighth grade. The news didn’t come as a total surprise to Lehwald, who says his dad had started painting his nails and shaving his legs in the months prior. While the news came at a difficult time—Lehwald had been dealing with bullying in school for reasons unrelated to Carly—he says his friends and peers have been accepting, which helps. He also learned to lean on art as an emotional oulet.

If Lehwald was feeling abandoned, he would photograph an abandoned lot. If he was mad, he would edit a photo to show his anger. His Instagram account, @abstractive—which features pictures taken around Evanston, Chicago and on his travels— boasts thousands of followers.

“I want kids to be OK with feeling how they feel,” Lehwald says.

While he is accepting of Carly’s transition and happy that she could be the person she wants to be, he stresses the importance of kids coming to terms with their emotions. “If you’re upset with something your parent is doing, tell them,” he says. “Just do it in a polite way. If you don’t talk about your problems, the situation won’t improve.”

More than anything, Lehwald hopes to spread a message of love and acceptance: Do what you want to do. Be what you want to be. Feel what you want to feel. “We’re all just trying to figure out who we are.”

“Becoming Us” premieres on ABC Family June 8th at 8 p.m. CT.

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PHOTO BY BEN LEHWALD

KIDS

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PHOTO BY BEN LEHWALD

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#INCREDIBLEKIDS FEATURE

REILLY LANIGAN OLYMPIC HOPEFUL Many student athletes can feel torn between their academic and athletic commitments. Not so for Reilly Lanigan, a junior at Lake Forest High School and a National-level swimmer with Olympic aspirations, who thinks success in the classroom and the pool go hand-in-hand.

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PHOTO <CREDIT>

BY CHRIST Y COUGHLIN

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"Swimming teaches life lessons,” says Lanigan, who has been a dominant force in Illinois swimming since she was 10.

“I have developed great time management skills, which are required to get my homework done around my practice time. It also teaches a strong work ethic.

Whatever you give in practice will show during a race."

Lanigan’s coach, Eugene Spivak, says that two of her best qualities are determination and intelligence. “When she puts her mind to something….she goes after that goal full-force,” he says. “She is a swimmer who always knows what's going on, understands her race plan and the swimmers she is competing against.”

At press time, Lanigan was preparing to travel to Ireland as a member of the National Club Swimming Association's 2015 All-Star Junior Team. Twenty-six elite girls and boys qualified last winter to meet, train and compete in Dublin at the Irish Open Swimming Championships. Lanigan's outstanding performance against some of the top girls in the country earned her one of these coveted spots.

This summer—as she works to whittle down her college choices from the many interested institutions—Reilly will continue her life in the fast lane: vying for U.S. Olympic Trials cuts and racing for top spots at Junior National meets. "I am close in the 200 and the 400 Freestyle,” says Lanigan, of her chances at the Olympic trials.

As for college: “I want to find the right balance between school and swimming,” Lanigan says, in what’s starting to sound like a theme.

PHOTOS BY LINDA MACLENNAN

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FEATURE

Swimming is a grueling sport that requires hours in the pool along with strength and flexibility training on dry land. Despite this, her school demands and some limited downtime with family and friends, Lanigan still finds time to give back. "I volunteer at Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association teaching swimming to kids with mental or physical disabilities,” she explains. “I may lead a workout or teach a lesson. It makes me appreciate my swimming.”

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#INCREDIBLEKIDS FEATURE

JACK YONOVER FILMAKER OF "THAT BITES"

BY HEIDI MOORE

Jack Yonover

When Jack Yonover, 13, of Wilmette was in fifth grade, he was diagnosed with a tree nut allergy. The unexpected news not only meant a scary medical condition to navigate, but also transformed his relationship with food.

Suddenly birthday parties, dinners out and visits to friends’ homes brought new hurdles. He and his family were at the mercy of ingredient lists and often-uninformed servers.

professionals and other kids with food allergies. He even staged a birthday party and a trick-or-treating scene to show the types of situations that cause problems for the food-allergic.

“There was a long transitional period where life completely changed,” he says. “I went from not having to deal with a food allergy to all of a sudden having to read every label, be extremely careful and carry my EpiPen with me.”

Along the way he made some rookie mistakes—thinking the sound was recording when it wasn’t, for one, and failing to stock up in advance on head-lens cleaner—but, in the end, he pulled it all together in a 44-minute film that he edited himself.

Some kids might have focused their energy on complaining about their bad luck. (And who could blame them?) But not Jack. A movie fanatic, he decided to make a documentary to educate people about the fears and frustrations of food allergies.

Filmmaker Rebecca Halpern, who taught Jack at Facets, says the aspiring filmmaker’s enthusiasm and focus stood out in class.

“When you’re 13 years old, no one expects a lot out of you,” she says. “Then you see a teen who’s able to make a documentary, marry his passion of filmmaking with raising awareness of something that’s close to him, and tell the story in a compelling way.

That’s what documentary filmmaking is all about.”

Then in March 2014, Jack launched a Kickstarter campaign to purchase filmmaking equipment and editing software for his project, "ThatBites.com" Within 48 hours he’d reached his goal of $5,400 and then far exceeded it, eventually taking in a total of $10,502.

Jack worked on the project for about a year. During that time he finalized the script and captured interview footage with medical

According to the advocacy group Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), food allergies affect 15 million people in the U.S. and 1 in 13 kids. Jack says he hopes the film will educate as many people as possible about the realities of life with food allergies.

“All the inspiring emails we get about the impact Jack is having on them have startled me because I never thought it would be this big,” Yonover’s dad, Paul, says. “It’s been an interesting ride.”

“That Bites!” premiered at the Wilmette Theater on April 16 at two private screenings that raised more than $7,600 for FARE. The film has been selected for this year’s Riverside International Film Festival in Riverside, Calif., New York City’s VisionFest and Eureka Springs Indie Film Fest in Eureka Springs, Ark., where Jack is nominated for “Best Young Filmmaker.”

So far, several schools across the country plan to host screenings as well.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF JACK MUELLER

“I didn’t have a background in filmmaking,” Jack says, without a hint of irony considering his age. So he enrolled in filmmaking classes at Facets Multimedia in Chicago.

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5/11/15 12:02 PM

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# F A M I LY

FIGHTING BACK FROM A POST-NATAL STROKE

BY CORTNEY FRIES

Adam Kroupa and his wife, Heather, were snuggling on the bed with their newborn son, Joshua. It was their first day home together as a family.

Heather did not answer. Her eyes were wide, but she did not speak. Adam repeated the question. Heather just looked lost.

“If you don’t respond now,” Adam told her, “I am calling the ambulance.” Heather slumped over. Adam dialed 911. Would he need to raise their child on his own?

Heather was rushed to Central DuPage Hospital (cdh.org). At only 27 years old, she had suffered a stroke. The doctors told Adam she might never get out of bed again.

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, almost 800,000 Americans suffer from a stroke each year.

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability. The number of

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women in their childbearing years who suffer from a stroke is low (11 per 100,000); however, a young woman’s risk for stroke triples around the time of delivery.

High blood pressure is the strongest risk factor for a stroke. Even without a history of hypertension, pregnant women can develop preeclampsia, a dangerous condition marked by a sudden increase in blood pressure. One of the first signs of preeclampsia can be significant and severe swelling.

One month prior to Joshua’s due date, Heather’s mother and mother-in-law, both nurses, noticed she was very swollen. They insisted she get her blood pressure checked. Heather used an automatic blood pressure machine at the Jewel, and discovered her numbers were high. When she visited her obstetrician the next day, he immediately sent her to labor and delivery. Joshua was born that night, small but strong.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE KROUPA FAMILY

“What do you think he’ll be like when he grows up?” Adam asked Heather.

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# F A M I LY The Kroupa Family at Heather's bedside

After two weeks in the NICU, Heather and Adam were overjoyed to bring their son home. But the day that had been their happiest suddenly turned into a nightmare when Heather became unresponsive. While they were able to get her to a stroke center quickly and have the clot removed, the first 72 hours were terrifying for her family. Heather could not move her right arm or leg or speak a word.

Fortunately, Heather began showing signs of improvement.

Soon she started moving; but she suffered from aphasia, a loss in language ability. She could not grasp or say familiar words, like her husband’s name.

After initial recovery from a stroke, the patient needs to receive comprehensive rehabilitation to regain functional independence.

Adam did not know where to turn. He was accustomed to making major decisions with his wife; but now he needed to make an important one for her. A friend from church recommended the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (ric.org).

For 24 years in a row, RIC has been voted America’s best hospital for physical medicine and rehabilitation by U.S. News and World Report. It is the only national designation for research and training on stroke rehabilitation. Researchers and clinicians work side-by-side to deliver better outcomes and recoveries.

At RIC, Heather underwent intensive, comprehensive physical, speech and occupational therapy. She arrived in a wheelchair, unable to speak. Not only did Heather leave two weeks later able to walk on her own, but the therapists helped her prepare for being a new mother by enabling breastfeeding and training her to walk up and down stairs with a 10-pound sack.

Standard rehabilitation centers get their patients to take 300 steps a day. RIC works diligently to increase that number to 2,500.

“We have found that by doing so, we are better able to regain the ability to walk farther and faster by the time the patient returns home,” says Dr. Richard Harvey, medical director of stroke rehabilitation at RIC. Think about how much more you can accomplish if you can walk quickly and easily.

“Not being able to talk was the most difficult thing for me,” Heather says. “I wanted to communicate with my husband and read to my baby.” Heather continued her therapy at RIC DayRehab® in Northbrook.

Today, it is virtually undetectable that Heather had a stroke.

While she does pause to remember words or occasionally lose her train of thought, who doesn’t? She’s able to live a normal life

PHOTO <CREDIT>

“I really wanted Heather to be pushed hard and to be with other people actively trying to get their lives back,” Adam says. While

the RIC flagship location downtown was not the closest to the Kroupas’ home in Lisle, Adam thought it was the best bet to get Heather back to the mom she wanted to be for Joshua.

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# F A M I LY

with her family, which now includes a daughter, Allison, 2 years old. Heather is in school to become a teacher and has twice completed the SkyRise Climb up the Willis Tower to benefit RIC.

“It might cost time and money to take an ambulance,” Heather says. “But that is far cheaper than spending weeks, months or years recovering from a stroke.”

The doctors at CDH were stunned when they saw Heather walking and talking again. How did she make such a dramatic recovery? “Stroke outcome is mostly dependent on rapid acute neurological care in comprehensive stroke centers along with comprehensive rehabilitation services,” Harvey says. “The process of providing coordinated comprehensive stroke care including neurological, medical and rehabilitation management is the leading factor in stroke survival and outcome.”

According to the CDC, stroke has now moved down from the third leading cause of death in the U.S. to fifth. As a result of medical advancements, and rapid care, the risk of dying from a stroke has improved for the first year ever.

“If you do have a stroke, RIC is the best place for a younger person to get a full recovery,” Harvey says.

Their AbilityLab™ is packed with advanced technology, friendly therapists and cutting-edge researchers focused on amplifying patients’ functionality. It is the revolutionary model for RIC’s new hospital. Scheduled to open in 2017, it will focus on the outcome of increased ability as opposed to the process of rehabilitation.

F - FACE:

Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A - ARMS:

Ask the person to raise both arms.

Does one droop downward?

S - SPEECH:

Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase.

Is their speech slurred or strange?

T - TIME:

If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

PHOTO <CREDIT>

Looking back, Heather wonders if she had a transient ischemic attack, a precursor the day before her major stroke. No matter how small your symptoms or how short they last, Heather recommends getting checked out.

It is incredibly important to know the signs of a stroke so that patients can be treated quickly. Use FAST to remember the warning signs (stroke.org):

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Belize

PHOTOS COURTESY OFAMBER GIBSON, AND VISIT PORTUGAL

# T R AV E L

BEAT THE CROWDS:

UP-AND-COMING VACATION SPOTS TO VISIT NOW

BY AMBER GIBSON

In need of some vacation inspiration?

Pauline Frommer, editorial director and co-president of Frommer Media (frommers.com)

BELGIUM

Frommer says now is the time to go to Europe because the strength of the dollar makes it more affordable for Americans.

For history and art buffs, Frommer recommends oft-overlooked Belgium. Mons is the European capital of culture this year.

“That means there’s going to be a slew of really extraordinary arts events,” she says. “It’s the 125th anniversary of Van Gogh’s death and they’ll have a blockbuster exhibition of 70 paintings and drawings by Van Gogh.”

You can plan to eat very well in Belgium. “The food is often better than what you get in France,” Frommer says. “Often in French cities, at the lower level they’re microwaving their food now. You never get that in Belgium. The food is really great at all levels, the chocolate can’t be beat and it has some of the most perfectly preserved medieval neighborhoods—like Bruges, Ghent, the historic core of Antwerp.”

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BELIZE

Traveling with adventurous kids? Consider Belize. Frommer’s daughters, ages 11 and 15, loved a recent trip to this beautiful Caribbean country, where they rappelled down 200-foot cliffs, swam in caves and explored Mayan ruins. “I know my kids would kill to go back to Belize,” she says. “They did things there that would be illegal for kids their ages to do in most other places.”

Belize has beach resorts for a more leisurely vacation, but the mix of culture, nature and adventure can’t be beat. “It’s like Costa Rica, but with fewer crowds and more cultural activities,” Frommer says.

Samantha Brown, Travel Channel host (travelchannel.com)

LISBON

rown urges travelers to take the European vacation of their dreams this year. “The dollar hasn’t been stronger against the Euro in the last 10 years,” she says. “Stick to countries with the Euro and consider cities like Lisbon, which [has] all the romance of Paris or Rome, but at a fraction of the cost.”

AMELIA ISLAND

For a warm-weather getaway closer to home, Brown recommends Amelia Island in Florida. “You fly into Jacksonville, which is a great, easy airport, nothing like Miami,” she says. “Then it’s just a

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BELIZE TOURISM BOARD

We caught up with travel experts at the Travel and Adventure Show earlier this year, and they gave us the scoop on hot spots to visit. Here are their favorite up-and-coming destinations and why you need to go now.

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# T R AV E L

Amelia Island

Patricia Schultz, author of “1,000 Places to See Before You Die” (1000places.com)

CUBA

Cuba is an obvious hotspot this year. Since the United States lifted travel restrictions to the island, travelers can visit independently and new direct flights from the U.S. are likely. Author Patricia Schultz visited Havana five years ago with CubanAmerican friends. “We stayed at the Hotel Nacional (hotelnacionaldecuba.com),” she says. “Of all the hotels in the city, it’s the best known, most historic and best maintained.”

Schultz also enjoyed visiting Dos Gardenias nightclub and watching the original Tropicana cabaret. “We sat in the front row, with threadbare tablecloths and a bottle of rum,” she says.

“Their costumes were falling apart, safety-pinned together and

you could see sequins hanging off, but what a show. These people are born dancing.”

Schultz recommends sticking with reputable tour companies if you’re visiting in the immediate future. “Go with a sense of adventure,” she says. “The infrastructure is not what it needs to be yet now that the floodgates have opened, but it’s not dangerous.

Cuban people are so warm.”

SLOVENIA

On the European continent, Schultz thinks former Yugoslavian countries are a great value and underrated. “Slovenia is so idyllic,” she says. “Ljubljana [the capital] is very pedestrian and you can stroll all around.”

Since Slovenia shares a border with Italy, Schultz says the food and wine are very strong in the region and also recommends spending a few days by Lake Bled, where you can go biking, climbing and kayaking. Schultz suggests staying at Vila Bled, former Yugoslavian President Tito’s villa, which has been converted into a luxurious hotel.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BELIZE TOURISM BOARD

PHOTOS COURTESY OFAMBER GIBSON, AND VISIT PORTUGAL

20-minute drive to a vacation from yesteryear. Go kayaking, hunt for seashells, just relax. Accommodations range from the Ritz-Carlton (ritzcarlton.com) to affordable condos for families.”

Portugal

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# T R AV E L

Kids enjoy the beach services at The Trump; The Swissôtel’s dino-themed Kids Suite

3 MUST-TRY CHICAGO

STAYCATIONS GOLDCOAST GIRLFRIEND GETAWAY

THE RITZ CARLTON Old-world elegance and smashing fun await you and your gal pals in the Gold Coast at the Ritz Carlton, A Four Seasons Hotel. Steps away from fantastic shopping and dining, you’ll find everything you need for a great girls’ getaway. I love the lake views, which will be rocking from the rooftop lounge (as well as the Ritz’s yoga room on the 75th floor) this summer. If you and your entourage are looking to mix things up, try the Mixology class—a sweet offering for suite guests, where you learn how to mix the Ritz’s signature drinks. Cheers! 160 E. Pearson St. fourseasons.com/chicagorc

THE TRUMP TAKES THE BEACH

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL & TOWER CHICAGO Looking to hit the beach this summer? The Trump has your beachside pass to Chicago’s 26 miles of sandy Lake Michigan beaches. Who needs to travel oceanside to soak up the sand, sun and surf? The Trump brings the beach to you with its Luxury

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Beach Services now through Labor Day weekend. Guests arrive by complimentary chauffeured Cadillac with tote bags featuring beach goodies, including toys for kids. The hotel will even reserve you a beach chair at Oak Street beach complete with an umbrella and lunch service. 401 N. Wabash Ave. | trumphotelcollection.com/chicago

SOMETHING FISHY AND FUN

THE SWISSÔTEL CHICAGO At the Swissôtel Chicago, every child is a VIK (very important kid). If you have little ones who need to keep busy, an ocean’s toy box awaits at the Swissôtel’s Kids Suites. Sign up for the Fish room where you will find age-appropriate fish toys, books and movies right in your child’s room. Families also receive four VIP tickets to the Shedd Aquarium. If dinos are more your family’s thing, you can request the dinosaur room with tickets to the Field Museum. Parents get a separate adjoining room, and the Swissôtel has an indoor pool for those not-so-sunny summer days. 323 E. Upper Wacker Drive | swissotel.com/explore/kids-rooms

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE TRUMP AND THE SWISSÔTEL

BY D O N NA BOZ ZO

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CHECK OUT

99 DAYS OF SUMMER: THE 2015 SUMMER GO GUIDE

99 DAYS OF SUMMER 2015 SUMMER GO GUIDE

FEATURING MILLENNIUM PARK SUMMER FILM SERIES | SUMMERFEST JULY 4TH FEST | JUDY BLUME | OLD TOWN ART FAIR SUMMER BRAIN GAMES | FOUNTAIN SQUARE ART FESTIVAL

VIEW IT NOW AT MAKEITBETTER.NET/99DAYS

SUMMER GO GUIDE EVENTS:

Millennium Park Summer Film Series * Redhead Days Festival * Old Town Art Fair * Long Grove Strawberry Fest * Hamill Family Wild Encounters * Independence Day Salute * Chicago Fire vs. Columbus Crew SC * Sip & Shop: Uncorked * Brandi Carlile and Old Crow Medicine Show * Zoo Ball 2015 * Ricky Birdsong Memorial Race Against Hate * Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Shedd * The Grove Craft Beer & Wine Festival * Vernon Hills Summer Celebration * Summerfest

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#HOME

Summer is here, and color is blooming all over the city, perhaps most spectacularly in the Merchandise Mart’s 11th annual Dream Home, where Chicago’s hottest interior designers have let their imaginations soar. The result is well worth a visit.

DINING ROOM

BEDROOM 

Takeaway: Coyle says most people rarely use their dining rooms, so she suggests turning it into a multi-functional room with a sturdy table that can double as a desk. “Why confine yourself to a small home office when you can spend your day in one of the prettiest rooms in the house?” she asks, adding that “every dining room needs a great light fixture.”

Takeaway: “The key to a great design is cohesiveness and overlapping of colors and textures,” Fontana says.

For the design of the dining room, Anne Coyne imagined Baroness Karen von Blixen, the author of the 1937 memoir, "Out of Africa," returning to her home in Denmark from Africa. “I realized she would also have had a lot of exotic furnishings from her time [there],” Coyne says.

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“I wanted to create a space that felt functional yet glamorous at the same time and that would appeal to a Midwest sensibility but have the flair of a downtown lifestyle,” says Frank Fontana, of his design for the master bedroom. The bestselling author and Emmy-winning television star combined metallic and reflective surfaces with natural elements such as a wall treatment that resembles reclaimed wood.

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PHOTO BY DAVE BURK

#HOME

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#HOME

HOME

STUDY 

With no clients to consider, Tom Segal and David Kaufman designed the room as if it were a personal space in their own home. Using a graphic rug from Tufenkian Carpets as a starting point, the designers brought in an array of contrasting and complementary textures that lend interest to the moody monochromatic color palette.

Takeaway: To add warmth to the gray palette, the designers incorporated brass and bronze metals and covered the walls with grass cloth. “A modern room with hard edges can be softened by these kind of organic elements,” Segal says.

FOYER

For the spacious foyer, Marshall Erb, of Marshall Erb Design, combined art deco furniture with abstract expressionist artwork and a Cubist sculpture inspired by the Chicago Picasso. An oversized ‘70s-era torch-cut brass chandelier illuminates a custom table that Erb designed for the space.

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Takeaway: “Because it’s a room that you move through, a foyer needs to be memorable,” Erb advises. "A well-rounded collection has a blend of sculpture, painting, functional art like vases, lighting along with finely crafted furniture," she says, noting that a collective grouping of these elements is greater than the sum of it's parts.

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LIVING ROOM

Eva Quateman, of Eva Quateman Interiors, drew inspiration from mid-century designers Dorothy Draper and James Mont for her design of the living room. The palette she selected includes layers of verdant hues and unusual patterns such as Chinese toile. “You don’t see this color palette ever,” she says.

“It’s fresh and whimsical.”

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Takeaway: Be bold when designing a space. “I do this for a living, and I was a little afraid myself,” Quateman explains. “It was either going to look like the most fabulous thing ever or it’s going to look like a giant zucchini, but I kept doubling down on it, and at the end of the day, I think it paid off." Though Quateman knew she wanted to do "something fantastic" with her Dream Home space, she felt some hesitation just the same.

PHOTOS BY DAVE BURK

#HOME

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PHOTOS BY DAVE BURK

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#HOME

OUTDOOR KITCHEN TRENDS

BY PA M E L A R OT H B A R D

EVEN THE KITCHEN SINK

Backyards have become an extension of the family living space, growing to include many of the conveniences we enjoy indoors. Homeowners are increasingly adding comforts like “lighting, music systems and island seating,” says Chuck Hyams, a designer from Lake Bluff-based landscape architecture firm Scott Byron & Company.

Outdoor kitchens are keeping pace, growing in size and capability to include refrigerators, wine coolers, dishwashers, icemakers, warming ovens and elaborate cabinetry. Accessibility and accommodation are key.

BEYOND THE GRILL

“The deeper interest in artisan cooking has lead to more specialty equipment,”

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says Russ Faulk, Vice President of Design at Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, an outdoor kitchen products manufacturer.

Pizza ovens and smokers are some of the most popular outdoor cooking items.

Even grill functionality has evolved to include infrared burners, motorized rotisserie spits and multiple sources of heat including charcoal, gas and wood.

GO MODERN

“Outdoor kitchens used to be universally rustic, but now more modern elements are being embraced,” says Faulk. Popular countertop materials include poured concrete, wood-form concrete and largeformat porcelain slabs. Split-face stone and ipe (pronounced “ee-pay”) wood are contemporary wraps for external surfaces.

Rick Glickman, President and Founder of Dream Kitchens (dreamkitchens.com),

a Highland Park-based kitchen and bath design studio, notes that stainless steel cabinets can be powder-coated to match specific outdoor furniture pieces, creating an easy flow between outside cooking and living spaces.

NEVERENDING SUMMER

Homeowners who invest in and enjoy their outdoor space don’t want it to sit dormant nine months of the year. In addition to a fire pit or outdoor fireplace, offering partial protection from the elements creates an exterior space that’s a true extension of the home.

“Building a roof or adding one or two solid walls extends its use to three seasons,” Glickman says. “A well thought-out outdoor space encourages family and friend time, and ultimately, impacts our quality of life.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF KALAMAZOO OUTDOOR GOURMET

Midwestern summers are short. If the weather is warm, we want to be outside enjoying it, which means many of us are evolving the way we use outdoor space. Well-appointed outdoor kitchens mean we don’t have to go inside, even at mealtimes. Here, local outdoor design specialists give us the scoop on the latest al fresco kitchen trends.

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#FINANCE

HOW TO RAISE KIDS WHO

AREN’T SPOILED

BY MEGHAN STREIT

That experience got him thinking about how we talk to our kids about money and how we can raise children who are grateful, thrifty, generous and prudent—in other words, not spoiled.

Lieber explores those questions and offers practical guidance on everything from how to handle the tooth fairy to how much to spend on college in his book “The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money.”

“I like to draw the line at Land’s End,” Lieber says. “If our daughter wants something to the right of Land’s End [on the spending continuum], she will pay the difference. You can use continuum for any spending on kids—sports equipment, summer camp— and explain to kids what you’ll pay for any given category. You may be a Wal-Mart underwear family and a Patagonia outerwear family.”

Lieber recently spoke about his new book at North Shore Country Day School at an event sponsored by the Family Action Network.

He offered these five rules for raising kids who aren’t spoiled.

2. INCLUDE KIDS IN YOUR FAMILY’S PHILANTHROPIC DECISIONS. Don’t just tell your kids that giving is important; get them involved in the process. Even at a young age, kids can understand what it means to help others. And, you may find they’ve got some great ideas to contribute to your family’s philanthropic plans. Try Lieber’s method for making philanthropic decisions as a family: Put 100 black beans on the table and divide them up based on the amounts you currently donate to various causes, and then discuss changes and additions. When Lieber intro-

1. LET KIDS BUY THEIR OWN LUXURY ITEMS. Yes, your children need clothing, sports gear and many other personal items. But, every purchase does not need to be top of the line. Lieber recommends that parents establish a spending continuum. For example, he is happy to provide rain boots for his daughter, but isn’t willing to pick up the $150 tab for Hunter boots.

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PHOTO <CREDIT>

New York Times personal finance columnist Ron Lieber was surprised when he realized that the most difficult money questions he was being asked were coming from his toddler.

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#FINANCE

duced this exercise, his daughter said she’d like to help other kids attend her summer camp, so the family shifted a portion of their giving to the camp’s scholarship fund.

Lieber says to give them your hand-me-downs. If they want an upgraded phone or a fancier car, let them save up their allowance money to pay for it.

3. DON’T TIE ALLOWANCE TO CHORES. Lieber says parents should give children allowances (and require them to divvy it up among spending, saving and giving), and he believes kids should do chores, but he says the two shouldn’t be tied together. If chores aren’t getting done, you can take away privileges like screen time or sports practice.

5. DON’T LET TEENAGERS MAKE SIX-FIGURE FINANCIAL DECISIONS. “Something weird has happened in the U.S.: Kids are making six-figure decisions…about what you will pay and what they will borrow as teenagers [for college tuition],” Lieber says. “The fact that kids are leading this charge is absolute lunacy. It’s a national embarrassment.”

As for teaching the value that money comes from work, Lieber says: “I think it’s great for kids to work, but not for people who are related to them. Work has gone out of favor, especially for upper-middle class families. Mostly, the reason kids don’t work as much is because of the college admissions industrial complex, and the view that college admissions officers don’t value work as much as they do starring in school plays.”

The truth, Lieber says, is that college admissions offices get a lot of essays from star athletes and student council presidents, but very few from teens who can write movingly about what they learned from working an after-school job. “College admissions officers crave those, and they wish they could see more of them,” Lieber says.

“The best data is self-reported income data, but it is useless,” Lieber says. “And that data tells us nothing about the quality of people they are meeting or the relationships they are forming.

These are quarter-of-a-million-dollar investments and we know nothing about what we are getting—and that is crazy.”

Lieber concedes that the temptation is strong to shell out for a “brand-name” college education. But, he encourages parents to think long and hard before spending what could be $250,000 per kid or letting your teens get into major debt in the form of student loans.

Go online to watch Lieber discuss the scale of wants vs. needs.  MAKEITBETTER.NET/SPOILED

PHOTO <CREDIT>

4. PASS YOUR OLD PHONES AND CARS ONTO YOUR KIDS. It’s true that in our constantly connected society, kids (of a certain age) do need phones. And often, it’s easier to provide them with a car than to continue to shuttle them around. But, your teenager doesn’t need an iPhone 6 and a Lexus SUV. Instead,

When parents pay for pricy private schools, they’re usually making that decision based on emotions rather than logic.

Lieber says there’s no reliable data that demonstrates a correlation between college tuition and future earnings.

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#FA SHION

LAUNCH

DRIVING FASHION FORWARD

BY GENEVIEVE LILL PHOTOS BY FRED BLEDSOE

SARA CAMPBELL

Pigue jacket Sara Campbell, $248 Pigue skirt with scallop hem Sara Campbell, $238 847-441-2813

SARA CAMPBELL

Princess line chemise satin print dress Sara Campbell, $228 Matching printed coat with bow Sara Campbell, $358 847-441-2813

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#FA SHION

The worlds of fashion, philanthropy and luxury cars collided in April at the Launch 2015: Driving Fashion Forward event at the Autohaus on Edens in Northbrook. Proceeds from the event benefitted The Winnetka Club. Check out some of the top looks from this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s runway. To see more runway looks from the event, visit makeitbetter.net/launch2015.

WAYNE CLARK

Silk brocade floral gown.

Lake Forest Shop, price upon request 847-234-0548

CARLOS FALCHI Natural Python bag Tria Boutique, $1,450

LAURENCE DECADE FRENCH CONNECTION Soft spray flared dress Juniper, $248 224-326-2412

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Thick heeled lace sandal with buckles Tria Boutique, $750 847-948-8770

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#FA SHION

HOT FLASH! SUMMER BEACHWEAR B Y E VA N G E L I N E P O L I T I S

From beach to pool, keep the kids looking fresh in these summery ensembles.

Mayoral Beachwear nautical swimsuit Maya Papaya & Tony Macarony, $34 847-866-6292

Nano Hat Maya Papaya & Tony Macarony, $25 Nano sun-safe T-shirt Maya Papaya & Tony Macarony, $28

Roxy flip flops Lad & Lassie, $18 847-251-7570

Nano whale swim trunks Maya Papaya & Tony Macarony, $28 Quicksilver flip flops Lad & Lassie, $20

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For more great summer fashion for the family, visit makeitbetter.net/ summerfashion.

Mom and dad can look chic while the kids make a fashionable splash with their friends in the water.

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# FAT H E R ’ S DAY

DECKED—OUT DAD FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE 2015

BY AMBER GIBSON

Dad deserves to be spoiled!

Give ho-hum gifts the boot this year with these A-1 items.

LUXURIOUS LEATHER

Work in luxury with the Paul Stuart Dark Brown Leather Convex Top Briefcase. Paul Stuart, paulstuart.com, $697

STAY CHARGED

The Energi 5K+ Portable Charger from TYLT charges three devices at once. Tylt, tylt.com, $90

The Big Green Egg is all the rage and comes in a variety of sizes (pictured: Large Egg with Nest and Mate). Backyard Barbecue, backyardbbqstore.com, 847-251-2272, $1079

ONE HOT WATCH

Keep time in style with the Harry Winston Project Z8 limited edition automatic timepiece. Harry Winston, harrywinston.com or 1-800-988-9110, price available upon request 64

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MANUFACTURES

NEXT-LEVEL GRILLING

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# FAT H E R ’ S DAY

STYLISH SLIP-ON

Go green this summer with Jimmy Choo Grove Croc-Embossed Leather Slip-On Sneakers. Saks Fifth Avenue, saks.com, $595

A SMOOTHER SHAVE

Natural botanicals soothe sensitive skin in this shave cream that feels like a cross between clay and lotion. Arithmetic Products, arithmeticproducts.com, $30

GROWN-UP SWIM TRUNKS

Help dad look great this summer in swimwear with a tailored fit. Bonus: UV filters in the fabric ensure the vibrant colors won’t fade. Retromarine, retromarine.nyc, $135

CYCLING-LOVER’S MUGS Bike-happy dads will love this set of Bicycle Mugs. Perry Clark Home, perryclarkhome.com, $48

SPA, PLUS SPIRITS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MANUFACTURES

The Vintage Bourbon Massage at the Four Seasons includes a Bourbon Bubbler Scrub, healing massage and a glass of delicious bourbon to top it off. Four Seasons Hotel, fourseasons.com/ chicagofs/spa, 312-280-8800 $160-215

VACATION PHOTOS

Save dad the point-and-shoot responsibilities. On your next vacation, hire a local photographer to capture candid snaps of the family having fun.

Flytographer has photographers for hire in 130 locations worldwide. Flytographer, flytographer.com, prices vary J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 5

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# F A M I LY

FAMILY ROAD TRIP TIPS

BY PA M E L A R OT H B A R D

A road trip offers a chance for unscheduled, untethered time with your family—the kind of time that busy lives often prohibit. And after all, the chants of bored kids rising up from the back seat, the choruses of “Are we there yet?” and “I need to go to the bathroom,” are essential songs on the soundtrack of parenthood. Here’s how to plan ahead for a fun and bonding-filled family road trip.

PREPARATION & PACKING

LET YOUR KIDS HELP PLAN One joy of a road trip is meandering. Another joy is actually having a place to sleep each night. So plan, but plan loosely.

Kids can help build in a few stops between destinations with the easy-to-read resource book National Geographic KIDS Ultimate U.S. Road Trip Atlas, which features stops like “World’s Largest Catsup Bottle” in Collinsville, Illinois and a cool hedge labyrinth in New Harmony, Indiana. Available on Amazon, $14 PACK IN INCREMENTS Save your back by packing one bag of things that everyone will want handy at each hotel—toiletries, medications, computer, bathing suits, etc. Use the other bags to pack the shoes and

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clothes that everyone will need, divided into several-day increments. You’ll only have to lug two suitcases per stop.

SNACK SMART Cut down on your number of stops by packing snacks. Bring healthier items since road trips tend to be full of drive-thrus.

Good options include water, snack bars, popcorn, dried fruit, nuts, and fresh-yet-hardy fruit like apples. Pack snacks into snack-size bags to avoid major cleanup after spills.

CAR ACTIVITIES

LIVING SCRAPBOOK For each child, pack a blank notebook, tape, markers, scissors and a disposable camera (if they don’t have a camera or other device to snap photos on). They can collect cards, brochures and napkins and draw pictures of things they see along the way.

Leave some pages blank to fill in with their photos, once printed, or print as you go from a mobile device with the Hiti Pringo Portable Printer. Available at Staples, $140

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMAZON

When you travel with your family by plane, you imply that the destination is the goal. When you take a road trip, you make a different declaration: There’s value in the journey. You have set your sights on discovering hidden gems and embracing the Zen-like qualities of the open road.

THE RUBBERNECKERS This car game is sort of a combination of “I Spy” and the dare part of “Truth or Dare.” Your whole family can compete to find items listed on their cards—like a car with more than three bumper stickers, birds on a wire, or a motorcycle with two people on it.

Additionally, teams compete to get other travelers to do things like flash a peace sign or honk their horns. Available at Amazon, $12

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OLD SCHOOL GAMES Don’t forget about the oldie-but-goodie games of our own childhoods.

• 20 Questions: One player thinks of a person, place or thing, and the other players can ask up to twenty yes/no questions in an effort to guess what it is.

• Find a license plate from each state • Fortunately, Unfortunately: An exercise in positivity as one player starts with an outlandish statement and the other players flip it for comedic effect. For example, the first player might say, “Unfortunately, a lion is about to attack us” with a sample player response of, “Fortunately, they teach lion taming at my middle school.”

MEDIA

QUIRKY STOPS Download the Roadside America (roadsideamerica.com) app and select the region you’ll be traveling in for locationspecific suggestions. It’s an easy way to find spontaneous stops when your kids are getting antsy and need a quick dose of wacky fun. Available at iTunes, $3.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMAZON

PLAY-AWAYS Books are great for long trips, but for those who get carsick from reading on the go, these small, self-contained audio books are a good alternative. Available at most libraries, you provide the headphones and your kids can plug in and listen to tomes by their favorite authors.

PODCASTS Great options for all ages.

• Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child: Each episode is a playlist billed as “indie music for indie kids.” Perfect for jamming without radio static and annoying DJs. • Storynory: These short stories are perfect for kids ages 7-11.

• How Stuff Works: A series that covers topics older kids and teens will find interesting like “Does the five-second rule work?” and “How spies work.”

• Good Job, Brain!: A weekly quiz show and offbeat trivia podcast that teens and adults will love.

One last tip: When your kids inevitably ask “Are we there yet?,” just answer “Yes.” Enjoy the ride.

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#BEAUTY

DOUBLE-DUTY COSMETICS:

6 PRODUCTS YOU NEED IN YOUR BAG RIGHT NOW

BY BELINDA LICHT Y CL ARKE

A gal on the go can’t be bothered with beauty products that serve only one purpose.

Instead, splurge on a few hard-working products that do double (or triple) duty.

Here are six multitaskers you need in your makeup bag right now.

2. ELIZABETH ARDEN EIGHT-HOUR CREAM SKIN PROTECTANT So popular, this rich balm shows up annually on numerous best-of-beauty lists. Not really a “cream,” and very versatile, it has been a cult favorite for years. A little dab of this rich balm under the eyes or above the lip lessens the appearance of wrinkles. On the lips, it works as a barrier against heat or cold. Rub it into your

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cuticles to smooth roughness, or massage into hands and then run lightly over your hair to tame frizz. ulta.com, $21 3. JANE IREDALE JUST KISSED CHEEK AND LIP STAIN Lots of products claim to work great on both cheeks and lips, but not all of them look this natural. The Just Kissed Cheek and Lip Stain from Jane Iredale incorporates olive and avocado butters and wild rose wax to provide a silky, long-lasting pink flush that’s just the right color. janeiredale.com, $25 4. NEUTROGENA SKINCLEARING AND BLEMISH CONCEALER Cover up your blemishes and zap them at the same time—what more could you ask for? The Neutrogena SkinClearing and Blemish Concealer wand comes in various shades for natural-looking coverage. Salicylic acid helps treat and elimi-

nate blemishes for quicker healing time. drugstore.com or neutrogena.com, $10 5. HARD CANDY PLUMPING SERUM VOLUMIZING LIP GLOSS This sparkly gloss adds moisture, shine and actually plumps up your lips—no surgery required! Try it in Nude Beach or Dunes for a natural, healthy-looking pout for day or night. You’ll soon be addicted, and if you have a daughter, it will not be in your purse for long. walmart.com, $6 6. NARS THE MULTIPLE For more than a decade, women have raved about The Multiple from NARS, a cream-to-powder makeup stick that works as a blush, lip color, eye shimmer and body bronzer. The wide-width creamy stick glides over skin and lasts for hours. In 12 pretty shades, including pink, pearl, peach, coral, mauve and bronze, it’s worth every penny. sephora.com, $39

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MANUFACTURES

1. VOTRE VU LUXE HAND CRÈME WITH LIP BALM Votre Vu Paris Luxe Hand Crème in Pamplemousse smells great and contains anti-oxidants, fresh grapefruit-peel oil with pure vitamin, and mineral-rich sunflower, grape seed and jojoba oils. The bonus is the juicy lip balm in the top that provides a sheer rosy tint. This doubleduty gem was voted one of the top beauty products for 2014 by Cosmopolitan magazine. votrevu.com, $22

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#BEAUTY

BY JENNY MUSLIN

Tousled waves give the illusion that you’ve been relaxing in the sun and sand all day, even if you haven’t been to the beach. This carefree style is soft, loose and works with both long and short hair. Here are two ways to get the look.

WITH HEAT

To begin, hair should be completely dry. Pin up most of your hair but leave the bottom section down. Using a 1-inch curling wand or 1 3/4 inch curling iron, take some hair and curl it away from your face as you wrap it around the iron. Then, take more hair but this time curl hair towards your face as you wrap. Continue alternating away from your face and towards your face with each section until your hair is completely curled. Run your fingers through your hair to break up the curls; you don’t want them to be tight. To finish, use a few spritzes of Beach Blonde Sea Waves Salt Spray, and crunch your hair to work the product through your strands.

WITHOUT HEAT

Summer is the perfect time to give the straightening iron a rest, and let your hair do its own thing. Wash your hair before going to sleep, and let it air dry for a while. Next, take a section of hair and wrap it around your finger starting at the root, twisting it until it’s tight around your finger.

Use a bobby pin or clip to secure the end of the curl to the top of your head. Repeat this step with the rest of your hair, changing directions with each section. In the morning, remove your clips for Kate Hudson-esque waves. Spritz a sea salt spray or holding spray to make the look last longer.

BONUS: ADD A BRAID

If you want to jazz up the beachy look or simply need a way to keep your hair out of your face, add a braid using a small-to-medium sized section of hair alongside your face. You can add the braid from your natural part or exaggerate a side part for a more dramatic look.

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PHO YEL BOT

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#BEAUTY

PHOTO BY CLASSIC KIDS WINNETKA YELLOW SWEATER: TRICOTTO, $58; TANK: CASUAL STUDIO, $35 BOTH COURTESY OF MATTIE M, MATTIEM.COM, 847-784-8701

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#FITNESS

BY CHRIST Y COUGHLIN

Summer is here, and it’s time to go biking. No one is more excited than 10-year-old Joey Hitzeman, who just received a brand-new, custom-made bike.

Joey Hitzeman and his father

is opening up his world. He can ride with friends and be more independent. If he fatigues, he is able to just hang out and let his partner do the work.” explains Karen. The Hitzemans live in a neighborhood with little traffic, which allows them to bike on the streets, although Joey is very eager to bike “outside the neighborhood!” he says.

On the contrary, Hitzeman has had several bikes that have allowed him to experience cycling, although his mother, Karen, mentions “we generally had to walk alongside him when he rode The bike—which Hitzeman describes as “just like my personality: those bikes.” With two other sons—William, 12, and Joey’s twin, humorous and fun!”—has opened up a world of possibilities not Peter—the family was looking for a way to be active together. only for Hitzeman but for his family. “Not only can he bike with Karen began researching other biking options, and when it us and get the benefits of the exercise,” Karen explains. “This became clear that Hitzeman is really helpful to our family. would need a custom design, Joey's brothers regularly have she brought her ideas to Larry to compromise their needs to Faulkner, owner of Green Bay accommodate his limitations.

“I love the glow of happiness that Cycles in Winnetka, who’s built They do this so often, and in comes over a kid who gets the several other adaptive bikes. such a loving way, that as parchance to ride a bike when they ents, we are so thrilled that Joey didn’t think it was possible."

In designing Hitzeman’s bike, can actually fully participate in a Faulkner met with the family to family outing that we all enjoy.”

-Larry Faulkner understand their needs. Hitzeman suffers from seizures, so Karen According to Dr. Deb GraebleOwner of Green Bay Cycles wanted a bike that would allow Spira, Hitzeman’s physician at her to glance over and check on the Rehabilitation Institute of him. She was also concerned Chicago: “Biking is a low-impact about getting him on the bike and the risk of falling. Faulkner and way for children who have CP and leg alignment difficulty to his team went to work. “We brainstormed with the shop guys to strengthen the trunk and hips, gain endurance and most imporfind the best solution. In this case it was two Sun Bicycles tantly have fun.” recumbents, attached with a Blackbird Bikes kit [which allows the bikes to be attached side by side],” he says, adding: “I love As I was finishing up my pictures and our discussion, Joey was the glow of happiness that comes over a kid who gets the obviously eager to get out on the road for a ride alongside his chance to ride a bike when they didn’t think it was possible.” dad. He was all smiles as they headed out for a pre-dinner ride with his twin, Peter, biking next to him. A local bike trail is next.

“When we picked up the bike at Green Bay Cycles, I have never Look for Joey, on his cool blue bike, along with the whole Hitzeseen Joey happier or more excited,” Karen recalls. “This bike man family.

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PHOTO BY CHRISTY COUGHLIN

Hitzeman was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that impacts his ability to control movement, balance and posture. He gets around in a power wheelchair that he operates with his head, so the idea that he could experience life on a bike may seem far-fetched.

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PHOTO BY CHRISTY COUGHLIN

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5/11/15 12:33 PM

#EMPTYNEST

THE UPSIDE OF AN

EMPTY NEST

BY MAR JIE KILLEEN

Emma smiles and breezes past me, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder. “Yes, you will,” she says, secure in the knowledge that everything she does is precious and adorable in my admiring eyes.

“No, I won’t,” I mutter to the dirty pile in my arms, and I mean it. When Emma follows her brother Nick off to college in the fall, it will be a big adjustment, but there are parts of becoming an empty nester that I’m distinctly looking forward to.

Free to be me.

For years, being a mom has been my number one job, but once Emma goes to college, I’ll be given my parenting pink slip. What a relief! Moms have to be so well behaved. Untethered from those

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confining expectations, I’ll be free to be indulgent and silly and even weird if I want. Not only can I devote more energy to my oft-neglected roles of creative genius and Ripe Peach vixen; I’ll be free to pursue new callings like wild turkey hunter, crystal healer, and poker maven.

Hubble telescope, there’s been someone patiently waiting in the wings for my attention. Why, it’s my husband. Guess what honey, I’m going to be turning the spotlight on you once we’re alone. Nothing like free time and privacy to rekindle a couple’s connection.

Better sleep.

No more waiting up late for Emma to come home or setting my alarm to make sure she’s in before curfew. Come September, I can turn off the light and drift into a deep, uninterrupted slumber all night long. Bliss.

Less drudgery.

No explanation needed here. Kids require loads of care and feeding, and they can create chaos in a house as effectively as a tsunami. I’m already fantasizing about my sparkly clean, perfectly organized, serene abode.

More passion with whatshisname.

All those years, while I focused on my children with the intensity of the

Travel wherever, whenever.

Liberated from the school calendar, my husband and I can travel whenever we

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARJIE KILLEEN

“I love you Emma, and I’ll miss you when you go to college,” I tell my youngest child, holding out her crumpled coat, festering soccer socks and encrusted fruit smoothie glass from the night before, “but I am not going to miss your mess.”

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PHOTO COURTESY OF MARJIE KILLEEN

Marjie, husband Liam and daughter Emma

like—not just at peak times like spring break or President’s Day weekend. And bonus! We won’t need to find a babysitter or chaperone when we want to have a weekend getaway.

So long, Sports Mom. I love that my kids play sports, but as a spectator, I’m a fair-weather fan. I won’t miss soccer season huddled under blankets on gusty sidelines in frigid temps or pretending to be interested in the game when my kid is subbed out.

Adult relationships.

When Nick came home the summer after his freshman year, he complained about how much I nagged him. Wait, I protested, that’s what moms do! But he and Emma had a different vision of my role in their lives.

I see that as my kids get older, they still need me to care about them, but they don’t want me to control them. It’s not that I’ll be a bad mom by being more hands off, it’s that the parenting job requires something different from me now.

As I form new adult relationships with my beloved offspring they will assume responsibility for their own lives. Which opens up the chance to….

Party!

My Irish husband and I used to host the most ribald St. Paddy’s Day parties—Irish dancers and bagpipers and all—until we realized that we were making quaffing a few pints look temptingly fun to our budding teenagers. We shut those parties down in the name of good parenting, but next year? Sláinte!

Come fall, if I should find myself alone in my silent, clean house, staring at Emma’s perfectly made bed and Nick’s immaculate bathroom, and if instead of feeling glee, my heart should throb with longing for my precious children’s noise and smells and laughter and dirt, and if I should sigh, mourning the passage of time and fearing the transition to a new, unknown stage of life—well, I’m just going to reread this list, damn it. And maybe pour myself a pint of Guinness.

Read more articles from Marjie online at makeitbetter.net/SATS.

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#BOOKS

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

According to the American Library Association, summer reading lists have been around since the 1890s. Still, this century-old tradition for tweens and teens is often met with trepidation. Reading should never feel like work. We’ve got a list of must-read young adult titles sure to keep your child’s nose in a book and you calling “Dibs!”

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I’ll Give You the Sun Jandy Nelson A multiple-award winner, Nelson’s tale about an artistically inclined brother and sister duo’s coming of age includes not just typical sibling rivalries, but first love, same-sex love, forbidden love and learning to let go—physically and metaphorically.

Swagger Carl Deuker New friendships, high school sports, future plans and possibly nefarious coaches present the boys in this basketball-themed novel with difficult choices to make.

Zac and Mia A.J. Betts First published in Australia in 2012, this story of two young cancer patients fighting illness and forging friendships will have a built-in fan base with its parallels to “The Fault in our Stars.”

The Tragic Age Stephen Metcalfe Being a teen is tragic enough—only more so when you are navigating grief. When his twin sister dies, Billy needs to decide with whom he is going to find his way back—his renegade, “bad boy” friend Thom, or Gretchen, his sister’s BFF.

Red Queen Victoria Aveyard A mix of sci-fi and supernatural, this debut author takes readers on a journey with Mare Barrows, a 17-year-old seemingly destined for servitude until she discovers powers of her own.

Mosquitoland David Arnold One of 2015’s early breakout favorites, you know there’s going to be some adventure when 14-year-old Mim Malone leaves her father in the South to return to her sick mother in Ohio via Greyhound bus.

Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek Maya Van Wagenen Geared toward the middle school set, this teen author shares a memoir of her experiences in a border-town middle school, using a 1950s-era social etiquette book as her guide to elusive popularity.

Breakout Kevin Emerson Great for middle school guys, Emerson’s hero is Anthony Castillo, cast against his type as a social rebel when the song lyrics he pens for his band go viral. To play the salacious song live or not—that’s the question.

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#DININGREVIEW

BANGERS & LACE:

NEW AMERICAN PUB FARE IN DOWNTOWN EVANSTON

BY JULIE CHERNOFF

PHOTO BY ERIC KLEINBERG

I think I can speak for Evanston in general when I say how nice it is to have Bangers & Lace take over the space once occupied by The Keg, which had a long and notorious history in our fair city.

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#DININGREVIEW

Bangers & Lace 810 Grove St. Evanston 847-905-0854 bangersandlacebar.com

STANDOUT BEER MENU

They aren’t threatened by the World of Beers bar a few blocks away, having won a spot each year in Draft Magazine’s “America’s 100 Best Beer Bars” at the original Chicago outpost for the past three years. And with 34 craft beers on tap at the Evanston location (including intriguing outliers like a milk stout from 51st Ward in Westmont or Cleveland’s Great Lakes “Rye of the Tiger”), and a small but well-curated list of specialty cocktails (I love the Bee’s Knees made with Finn’s Gin, honey syrup and fresh lemon juice, a study in balance), why should they be?

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If bar food is your thing, you will be one happy camper chowing down on the Tempura Pickles ($5), tart dills served with a supertasty Spanish chorizo aioli. The Cheese Curds ($7), a whole crispy pile of which we devoured with chipotle-ranch dip, are tremendously addictive (and fattening, but whatevs). And I love that they take a seasonal approach to their Deviled Eggs ($6), which during the winter were stuffed with chorizo and sported a Scotch egg-like coating; the spring version features avocado and pine nut purée. As a bit of a deviled egg fanatic, I can’t help but wonder what the summer will hold.

ENCASED MEATS!

Given the name (“bangers” is British slang for sausage, “lace” the term for the pattern of beer foam left on the inside of an emptied glass), it’s not surprising that the menu is so encasedmeat heavy. All specialty sausages are made in-house, ranging from a pork-curry sausage to venison to veal. You can choose from the “Plates,” “Sandwiches” or “Dogs” categories, and the

PHOTOS BY ERIC KLEINBERG

Gone are the days of sticky floors, underage drinking and the smell of old cigarette smoke. The space is now light and bright during the day, thanks to the lace-covered picture window in front and the large skylight toward the back. At night, there’s an urban gastro-pub feel, the comfy couches in the front seating area and the restaurant’s big booths and communal table filled with bearded hipsters and people who work nearby.

The Beard Wrecker

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The Greek

depth is impressive. I’d gladly eat the Duck BLT ($9) on every visit: duck and bacon sausage with aged Gouda cheese, oven-roasted tomato, leaf lettuce and garlicky aioli sandwiched between slices of toasted flatbread.

Don’t be a-feared of the Goat Sausage ($10), paired with caramelized pear, grilled endive and whipped feta, even though the combination may be out of your comfort zone; it’s worth a try. We found The Greek ($11), a grilled lamb and beef sausage served with tomato-cucumber relish, creamy tzatziki sauce and grilled naan bread, to be a tad dry, but flavorful.

Not into the fancy dogs? Go for one of the classic Vienna Beef iterations, like a Chicago Dog ($5) topped with the requisite sport peppers, relish, onions, tomato (but never— shudder!—ketchup), mustard and celery salt. I’d recommend the Char Dog ($5) with spicy pimento cheese, bacon and pickled jalapeno. There’s even a vegetarian version.

NON-MEAT EATERS GET LOVE, TOO

No need to despair if you’re not a sausage fan; B & L makes a mean Truffled Grilled Cheese ($10), just the right amount of buttery and oozy with three types of cheese (Irish cheddar, taleggio and raclette). I wasn’t a big fan of the accompanying tomato soup, which was too much like tomato sauce and not enough like soup. Or try the Po’Boy ($11), which sported a tempura soft shell crab on one visit, and cod brandade on the next.

Desserts include The Beard Wrecker ($5), perhaps the best and most apt dessert title ever. It’s their homage to S’mores, with bourbon-vanilla marshmallows, salted chocolate and graham cracker shards fighting for your love (and, apparently, our facial hair). Citrus Fool ($7) was the consummate British “pudding,” with Mandarin curd, lemon mascarpone, lime sauce anglaise, blueberry jam and crunchy pie crumble. It arrives in a tall glass mug, layered trifle-style, barely contained.

This is just the right kind of place to meet after work, or to hang out and let a little cool rub off on you. If you’re a sausage fan, add it to your bucket list; likewise for the beer lover.

Bonus points for the good vibes.

Check out more reviews and recipes online.

PHOTOS BY ERIC KLEINBERG

 MAKEITBETTER.NET/DINING

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#DINING Antique Taco

FOODLIFE

End bickering about which kind of food to eat. Foodlife has it all—their 14 kitchens serve up everyone’s favorites like burgers, sushi, stir-fry, pasta, and barbeue. Kids love the swipe cards they use to “pay” for their choices at the counters. Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, 312-335-3663 GREEK ISLANDS

PHOTO COURTESY OF LITTLE GOAT DINER

Meat on a stick! Flaming cheese! There’s a lot for kids to love at Greek Islands. Their menu goes on for days with choices like kids’ kabobs, gyros, burgers, spaghetti and pasticcio (a kind of Greek lasagna). It’s also fun to explore Chicago’s Greektown. 200 S. Halsted, Chicago, 312-782-9855 KEVIN’S PLACE

RESTAURANTS PARENTS AND KIDS WILL LOVE

BY PA M E L A R OT H B A R D

There are kids’ restaurants (hello, Rainforest Cafe) and adults’ restaurants (Alinea) and then there’s the sweet spot—places that welcome children while also serving food that adults love.

WE’VE ASSEMBLED A LIST OF restaurants

that fit the bill with inventive kids’ menus and friendly service.

For a more enjoyable experience, go out early—you can avoid waits and eat before your kids get tired and cranky.

At the first few meals out, order just entrees; appetizers and desserts may take too long and try a younger child’s patience. But, the very first step to a fun family night out is choosing the right restaurant, and you can’t go wrong with any of the following choices.

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LA CASA DE ISAAC AND LA CASA DE ISAAC & MOISHE

Brothers Isaac and Moishe offer a delicious introduction to fresh homestyle Mexican cuisine with kids’ tacos and quesadillas. Tortillas keep little hands busy and the menu offers great gluten-free options. 431 Temple Ave., Highland Park, 847-433-5550; 2014 First St., Highland Park, 847-433-7300 THE LANTERN

The Lantern’s entire menu reads like a kid’s dream, but there’s also a separate kids’ menu that becomes 3D with a free app. The atmosphere is festive and fun with a model train circling overhead and year-round holiday lights. On Sundays after 4 p.m., children 11 and under eat free. 768 N. Western Ave., Lake Forest, 847-234-9844 LITTLE GOAT DINER

From Stephanie Izard of Top Chef and Girl & the Goat fame comes a diner with some creative options. Mom and Dad can try pork belly pancakes with ginger-maple dressing while their kids tear into an ooey gooey cinnamon roll (get ‘em early!). 820 W. Randolph St., Chicago, 312-888-3455 SHAW’S CRAB HOUSE

Introduce your kids to fish and chips at this seafood restaurant. Shaw’s kids’ menu also has the usual goodies like macaroni and chicken strips. Children 12 and under enjoy their Sunday brunch for free; it features a dessert table that’ll make kids swoon. 21 E. Hubbard St., Chicago, 312-527-2722

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANTIQUE TACO

FAMILY FRIENDLY

“Come for Kevin, stay for the food!” touts the Kevin’s Place website. Kevin is the restaurant’s friendly, funny, fabulous owner and host. He sits at each table to personally take orders, coaxing smiles from even the shyest children.

Kids enjoy Mickey Mouse pancakes and scrambler quesadillas. 808 Waukegan Road, Deerfield, 847-945-4577

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#DINING Little Goat Nachos

SLURPING TURTLE

Kids will love slurping long, squiggly ramen noodles or eating from bento boxes. Large screens play anime (beautiful Japanese animated films) while children try to master chopsticks with the help of “fun chop” holders.

116 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, 312-464-0466

Tweens will appreciate the newly-opened Ten Mile House’s smoked brisket sandwich or wood-fired pizza. A kids’ menu adds to basics like grilled cheese with authentic barbequed ribs and burger sliders. The open kitchen and roaring fire from the pizza oven will pique kids’ interest. 1700 Central St., Evanston, 847-905-0669 COUNTER SERVICE RESTAURANTS

Counter service means you can sit and eat or pack it up and go without waiting for the check.

ANTIQUE TACO

Tacos and quesadillas are kid-happy foods and the family-owned Antique Taco readily modifies their tasty offer-

ings to please the pickiest eaters. Finish with Abuelita’s pop tart made with Mexican chocolate and marshmallows. 1360 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, 773-687-8697 BARNABY’S OF NORTHBROOK

Dark wood booths and old-school vinyl tablecloths make this place feel like the pizza joint of your childhood.

Barnaby’s serves up Italian specialties like homemade baked mostaccioli, meatball parmigiana and, of course, their crispy cornmeal-crust pizzas. 960 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, 847-498-3900 Follow Make It Better recommendations on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at #MIBFAVORITES.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANTIQUE TACO

PHOTO COURTESY OF LITTLE GOAT DINER

TEN MILE HOUSE

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# T H E AT E R

SUMMER STAGE

BY ROBERT LOER ZEL

“THE FANTASTICKS”

June 6 – 14 | Light Opera Works, at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson, Evanston | 847-920-5360 | lightoperaworks.org It’s famous as the longest-running play in history. This musical

by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones opened in 1960 at a theater in New York’s Greenwich Village and didn’t close until 2002, with a staggering 17,162 performances. Even if you’ve never seen this play—about two neighboring fathers who pretend to feud as a way of tricking their children into falling in love—you’ve heard its hit song, “Try to Remember.” Until now, no Chicago theater has ever performed the extended 1980s version of the show, which was designed for a full orchestra, making it a perfect fit for Light Opera Works.

“MOBY DICK”

Opens June 10 | Lookingglass Theatre, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago | 312-337-0665 | lookingglasstheatre.org The Lookingglass space inside the historic Water Tower Water Works will transform into one of literature’s most famous ships, the whaling vessel Pequod, and the ocean itself. Working in collaboration with The Actors Gymnasium from Evanston, Lookingglass is setting sail with a new adaptation of Herman Melville’s great American novel about Captain Ahab’s maniacal

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quest to kill the monstrous white whale. David Catlin, who created the entrancing and enormously popular “Lookingglass Alice,” is adapting and directing the show.

“CITY OF ANGELS”

June 10 – Aug. 2 | Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire 847-634-0200 | marriotttheatre.com This homage to film noir and Hollywood won six Tony Awards in 1990—including the big one for best musical—but it hasn’t been seen much on stages recently. The Marriott hopes to breathe new life into it. The story follows a writer in 1940s Los Angeles who’s trying to turn his best-selling crime novel into a screenplay. The private eye in the pages of his book springs to life alongside him on the stage, even arguing with him about the script. Larry Gelbart, the creator and producer of the “M*A*S*H” TV series, wrote “City of Angels,” with music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by David Zippel. The Marriott is also presenting a one-hour children’s show of “Pinocchio,” the famed tale of the wooden puppet who comes to life.

“GRAND CONCOURSE”

July 2 – Aug. 30 | Steppenwolf Theatre Garage, 1624 N. Halsted St., Chicago | 312-335-1650 | steppenwolf.org Heidi Schreck’s drama takes place in a church soup kitchen in the Bronx, where a serious-minded nun is the boss. The arrival of a young woman with rainbow-colored hair shakes things up a bit. Reviewing a 2014 production, The New York Times critic Charles Isherwood wrote that Schreck “writes fluid, natural dialogue and creates detailed characters that offer generous opportunities for actors.” Yasen Peyankov will direct the Chicago premiere for Steppenwolf, with a cast including ensemble member Tim Hopper.

Read more entertainment reviews and listings online at makeitbetter.net/entertainment.

PHOTO BY SEAN WILLIAMS

While many theater groups take a pause for summer vacation, others keep busy in June and July. Highlights include the launch of a new season by the North Shore company Light Opera Works and a new version of a familiar story about a whale.

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PHOTO BY SEAN WILLIAMS

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5/11/15 12:39 PM

#GIVE

BY MAUR A FL AHERT Y

GI V E T I M E GET MORE GIRLS IN THE GAME Girls in the Game 847-268-3550 | girlsinthegame.org Volunteer as a one-time guest coach or a weekly assistant for a Girls in the Game after-school program, and help girls across Chicago build their confidence and maintain good health. As a volunteer for Girls in the Game After School you will act as a role model for girls in grades 3-8 and assist with tasks such as taking attendance, demonstrating activities and setting up equipment.

Girls in the Game provides sports and fitness opportunities, nutrition and health education, and leadership training to enhance girls’ overall well-being. The organization serves over 3,000 girls every year. Volunteers must be 18 years or older and agree to a background check and training.

GIVE THINGS

DISTRIBUTE SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO CHILDREN IN NEED Back 2 School Illinois 847-268-3550 | b2si.org Volunteer to distribute school supplies to children in low-income families across Chicago in August. Join Back 2 School Illinois, which operates the largest free school supplies program in the state, and equip children of low-income households for success in the classroom. Last year, Back 2 School distributed over 750,000 items to 20,000 students. The Back 2 School Illinois mission is to create and support educational opportunities that enrich the lives of Illinois children by providing school supplies and other tools students need to thrive both educationally and personally. You can also make a financial contribution on their website at b2si.org. For more information, please email info@b2si.org.

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GI V E SU PP ORT HELP CLOSE THE OPPORTUNITY GAP Youth Organizations Umbrella 847-866-1200 | youevanston.org Make a donation online at youevanston.org and help Y.O.U. provide free services to over 1,300 youth and their families. The organization’s services range from enriching after-school and summer learning programs to clinical counseling and crisis intervention. The organization strives to close the opportunity gap by allowing all youth to realize their full potential. Y.O.U. also provides food and gifts for families during the holidays, and it is currently collecting transportation cards, food and other basic necessities for their Street Outreach program. If you are interested in meeting these needs, please contact Marianne Moberly at 847-866-1200 ext. 231.

ENRICH SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS Glencoe Junior High Project 847-835-7623 | gjhp.org Help teach students the importance of community service and of activities that promote personal growth by making a financial donation online at gjhp.org/donate. The Glencoe Junior High Project is a unique not-for-profit managed completely by community members who choose to devote their time and skills to creating opportunities for Glencoe’s middle schoolers. Most of GJHP’s financial support comes from community grants, revenue from their childrens’ play and parent contributions. For over 40 years, GJHP has been dedicated to providing middle school children in Glencoe with opportunuties in community service, the performing arts and social engagement. The organization offers positive choices for students and models social responsibility.

DONATE CLOTHES, SHOES AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS FOR THOSE IN NEED St. Vincent de Paul Chicago 773-881-0600 | svdpchicago.org Support St. Vincent de Paul by donating new or gently used clothes, shoes and other household items to any of their three thrift stores located in Chicago (9321 S. Western Ave.), Libertyville (1125 S. Milwaukee Ave.) and Orland Park (7010 W. 159th Street). The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the poor by ensuring their basic needs are met. They provide food, shelter and clothing as well as assistance with rent, utility expenses and transportation. The organization’s Chicago council has been helping families in Lake and Cook Counties since 1857. In 2013, they helped over 780,000 individuals. They operate 43 food pantries and offer a variety of volunteer opportunities. For more information, please visit svdpchicago.org.

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#BETTERMAKERS

BETTER MAKERS AND THEIR IMPACT 1

2

3 AMERICAN RED CROSS

PHOTOS BY AMERICAN RED CROSS OF CHICAGO & NORTHERN ILLINOIS

Heroes Breakfast April 21, 2015 Sheraton Hotel Chicago $1.2 million raised

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SHOWN IN PHOTOS: (1) Fran Edwardson of Winnetka, CEO of American Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois. (2) Funds raised go toward helping people when they need it most, from a local home fire to tornado damage to victims of the Nepal earthquake. Funds can also support military veterans or help kids in under-resourced areas. (3) Phil Bierman, Principal at Deloitte; Bob Sprague, Partner at Deloitte and Claudia Wolfe American Red Cross Board of Directors member. (4) Paul and Sue Brenner, of Evanston, 2015â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disaster Relief Heroes. (5) Erin Kennedy, CBS2 Chicago morning news co-anchor and Derrick C. Young, traffic reporter.

Presenting sponsors: Aon and Motorola Solutions Foundation

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Kerfuffle April 21, 2015 The Art Institute of Chicago $300,000 raised

PHOTOS BY ROARK JOHNSON

CHICAGO HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS

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PHOTOS BY FRED BLEDSOE

SHOWN IN PHOTOS: (1) Casey Marsh of Chicago, Midwest Region Managing Director of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF; Caryl Stern of Westchester County, NY, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF; Amy Brown of Park Ridge, Co-Chair of UNICEF USA’s Young Ambassadors; Kristen Mangelinkx-Jones of San Francisco, CA, VP of Regional Development of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF; Ashley Prasad of Chicago, Co-Chair of UNICEF USA’s Young Ambassadors; and Miller Vance, of Chicago, Co-Chair and Midwest Regional Board Member of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. (2) Caryl Stern of Westchester County, NY, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. (3) Lisey Barela and Jeff Feste, After Party Co-Chairs and members of UNICEF’s Next Generation Chicago Steering Committee, both of Chicago.

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8th Annual UNICEF Hope Gala April 17, 2015 Four Seasons Hotel $1.2 million raised

PHOTOS BY DANIEL BOCZARSKI AND BOB CARL

THE MIDWEST REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE U.S. FUND FOR UNICEF

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Co-Chairs: Elissa Efroymson, Mirja Haffner and Francia Harrington SHOWN IN PHOTOS: (1) Meg Sauer and Melissa Spring, both of Chicago. (2) Jim and Kay Mabie, members of Chi Arts Board of Directors, of Northfield, Jose Ochoa, ChiArts Executive and Artistic Director, of Chicago.

(3) Chi Arts Board members John Hart and Carol Prins of Chicago.

(4) Kerfuffle Co-chairs Mirja Haffner, Francia Harrington and Elissa Hamid Efroymson, all of Chicago.

(5) Chi Arts students perform ballet for guests at Kerfuffle. All of the funds raised will go toward providing artistically gifted, diverse students from across Chicago with pre-professional arts training.

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PHOTOS BY FRED BLEDSOE

SHOWN IN PHOTOS: (1) Jim and Ellen Sterling of Lake Forest; Daisy Simmons of Denver City, Calif.; Kate Sackman of Lake Forest and Jerome McDonnell of Chicago. (2) Gary Moneysmith; and Nicole Cavender, both of Wheaton. (3) Funds raised from the Naturally Funny Gala support EcoMyths’ student curriculum development.

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PHOTOS BY DANIEL BOCZARSKI AND BOB CARL

Naturally Funny Gala April 21, 2015 Second City $40,000 raised

Check out Ecomyth’s video online.

PHOTOS BY ROARK JOHNSON

PHOTOS BY JEFF SCHEAR/GETTY IMAGES

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ECOMYTHS ALLIANCE

THE WINNETKA CLUB

Launch Fashion Show April 12, 2015 Autohaus on Edens $14,800 raised SHOWN IN PHOTOS: (1) Proceeds from Launch benefit the Winnetka Club which provides scholarships for New Trier Township seniors who exhibit merit, character and need. (2) Michael and Andrea Rosengarden of Northbrook, Peach Carr of Chicago, MIB founder Susan B. Noyes of Wilmette, and Sally Lou Loveman, Event MC, of Winnetka.

(3) Tracy Tarentino of Chicago and LeAnita Ragland-Brooks of Winnetka.

Event Partners: Autohaus on Edens, The Balvenie, Columbia College Chicago, Davenport Design, Morton’s Steakhouse, Make It Better, Northbrook Toyota•Scion, Red Door Spa, Sound Investment, Tiny but Mighty Popcorn, The Winnetka Club, Yelp, Zzazz Productions

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#GIVINGBACK

PARENTING 101

PARENTING CLASSES TEACH SKILLS TO BUILD STRONGER FAMILIES

BY JENNY MUSLIN

If you think about it, we are given a license or certificate when we master something like driving or CPR. Yet, adults are not required to have any type of education when it comes to one of the most important responsibilities of their lives—parenting.

“But I also witnessed something else. Many of these stressed-out parents displayed unhealthy parenting practices that compounded their family dysfunction,” Bensinger says.

“I realized a lot of the mental health problems that were happening with the families were a result of ineffective parenting.

Parents didn’t have the tools that they needed to raise their children, but this wasn’t the fault of the parents. They didn’t know because they were never taught how by their own parents.”

Nicholas Giangreco is a senior at Evanston Township High School. Upon being asked to describe the effects of the program on his life, he explained, “The dangers imposed without proper parenting techniques [are] equivalent to a driver who never obtained a driver’s license. Who would travel on a highway full of unlicensed drivers? These mistakes are hurting children and diminishing their potential value to society. To this day, I have witnessed parents undermine and destroy the potential in their children—not due to lack of love, [but] rather lack of knowledge.”

Bensinger has witnessed Parenting Fundamentals help strengthen families and increase parental involvement in their children’s education. While many parents are court-mandated to attend the program, DCFS or a social service agency, there are also parents who attend PARENTING FUNDAMENTALS As a result, Bensinger the classes on their For more information on C4’s Parenting Fundamentals created the Parenting own. They hear about it program or to donate, contact Program Director Katharine Education Program. through word of mouth, Bensinger at Community Counseling Centers of Chicago, Today, it’s known as their school, church, 4740 N. Clark St. Chicago, 773-765-0829 or e-mail Parenting Fundamentals synagogue, or sometimes Katharine.bensinger@c4chicago.org. (c4chicago.org), and since friends who have taken its inception has graduthe program. All of the ated over 7,000 parents classes are translated in who are raising over 21,000 children in the Chicagoland area to Spanish and there is a translator available for parents who and Puerto Rico. The program is on the federal registry of speak a language other than English or Spanish.

Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (nrepp.samhsa.gov) and collects data on communication, non-violent discipline, After a long custody case, 38-year old Robert Augustin was problem solving and knowledge of child development. Classes ordered to enroll in Parenting Fundamentals. Upon completing are broken up into four different stages: parents of children the classes, Augustin explains, “I finally learned how to listen ages birth to 3; 4 to 7; 8 to 12; and 13 to 16. to my kids. The classes taught me how to be more patient with

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF A KATHARINE BENSINGER

In 1996, Katharine Bensinger was working as a mental health clinician in Chicago. Each day, she witnessed many children— and parents—who had experienced trauma, which included small children with anxiety and behavior problems, adolescents who had attempted suicide, and cases of domestic violence.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF A KATHARINE BENSINGER

Katharine Bensinger and Parenting Fundamentals Graduates

BY THE NUMBERS • In 2013, the Department of Children and Family Services found 29,934 cases of child abuse and neglect in Illinois.

• Emerging research confirms that parenting education decreases the likelihood that child abuse will occur.

• Parenting Fundamentals’ services reach over 10,000 low-income men, women and children every year.

• 97 percent of participants live at or below the federal poverty level.

my son, instead of yelling and screaming the same way my own father did to me.”

He went on to say that for the first time, he can look his children in the eyes and say, “I love you.” Augustin enrolled in additional parenting classes, went on to volunteer for the Parenting Fundamentals Program, and eventually was hired to work for the program.

Bensinger wanted to do more to promote change. In 2014, she testified before the Illinois General Assembly to ask legislators and The Illinois State Board of Education to make parenting education a part of their early childhood education funding and require a course in parenting as a prerequisite for high school graduation. She explained that this would not only improve graduation rates, but would also reduce costs for crime control and welfare.

“Every time I hear a parent say they are no longer hitting or verbally abusing their child, they yell less, they look at and listen to their child when they are talking to them, they are reading to their child, they are proud of their child’s improved grades…when they tell me that they have learned a new ‘language,’ a language that was not spoken to them growing up, then every day I get up and fundraise for this program because parents change,” Bensinger says.

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#OP-ED

WE LEAVE YOU WITH TWO

POWERFUL THOUGHTS FROM OUR READERS:

"One very close friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer, and in that first, terrifying moment, I realized those big numbers didn’t matter. The only number I needed to know was the number one, as in myself—one person who might work to make a difference."

–David Petro, "Op Ed: Breast Cancer and the Power of One," MAKEITBETTER.NET/POWEROFONE

“Mom’s philosophy was, ‘You are on this earth to make the world a better place.’ She was not building philanthropists; she was building ‘doers.’ The ‘doing of it’ instilled the values… We were hardwired for service.”

–from op-ed "Sue Duncan: Changing Chicago Children's Lives Since 1961" by Honey Jacobs Skinner and Keith Kiley Goldstein MAKEITBETTER.NET/DUNCAN

GOT AN OP-ED IDEA? PLEASE SHARE IT WITH US AT INFO@MAKEITBETTER.NET

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