Make It Better March April 2017 The Water Issue

M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7 T H E WAT E R I S S U E

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CHICAGO AND NORTH SHORE

CHICAGO AND NORTH SHORE POWERFUL . POSITIVE. CONNECTORS. VOLUME 8, ISSUE 2

13 GREAT CHICAGO SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS HOW SAFE IS YOUR FAMILY’S WATER? HOT LAKEFRONT PROPERTIES THE HEALING BENEFITS OF AQUA THERAPY HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT CRUISE

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Meet Malia.

She has multiple sclerosis.

Today, she lives a fuller life than anyone believed possible, thanks to an innovative stem cell treatment she received at Hadassah Medical Organization.

She calls herself lucky because of her improved energy, strength, and motor skills.

She calls her doctor the Rock Star of Stem Cell Therapies.

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FEATURES M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7 • V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 2

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50 How to ‘Waterscape’ Wisely

66 Swim Safe

54 Fish Tales: 13 Great Chicago Seafood Restaurants

68 Row with It

By Heather Blackmore

Big Blue World: The Water Issue 42 #waterislife: The Blue Marbles Project:

By Shannan Younger

By Julie Chernoff

By Megan Craig

By Christy Coughlin

82 Deep-Sea Fashion

By Brooke McDonald

44 Chicago’s Rivers Need Us — And We Need Them

By Metropolitan Planning Council

58 How Safe Is Your Family’s Water?

By Sarah Kuta

Photo by Todd Rosenberg | Cover Photo by Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez

CHICAGO

DEPARTMENTS ENTERTAINMENT

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Water, Water, Everywhere: 36

6 Nonprofits Bringing Clean Water to the Places That Need It Most

36

Set Sail: 8 Nautical Novels

96

Spring Stage

By Sara Kuta

98

94

Give Time, Give Things, Give Support

By Rincey Abraham

By Robert Loerzel

By Will Mendelson

101 Better Makers and Their Impact

By Anna Carlson

104 Inspiration and Transformation: Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

By Susan B. Noyes

HOME

76

Real Estate: On The Water

By Megan Craig

46

Watershed Times

By Megan Craig

DINING

52

By Julie Chernoff

A BETTER YOU

62

Healing Waters

By Shannan Younger

76 Just Add Water:

6 Spas Making A Splash With Water Treatments

By Amber Gibson

TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION

72 Anchors Aweigh: How to Choose the Perfect Cruise

By Kendra Thornton

91 How to Hit the Water by Boat Without Ever Buying One

By Susan Pasternak

FAMILY & FINANCE

88 Mom at Work

By Meghan Streit

96

72

Ice Ice Baby

IN EVERY ISSUE

16 cover credits 18 founder’s letter 20 contributors 24 you said it 26 from the web 28 fresh 30 community celebrations 32 recommended events 34 event listing 106 closing thoughts The views expressed in sponsored content are the opinions of advertisers and not the views of Make It Better.

LEFT PHOTOS: (FIRST) PHOTO © UNICEF/AL-ISSA; (SECOND) PHOTO BY ETHAN TALLY; (THIRD) PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RITZ-CARLTON SPA; (FOURTH) PHOTO BY JIM LUNING; RIGHT PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEY CRUISE LINE

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ON THE COVER One of the largest indoor aquariums in the world, Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium is home to more than 32,000 animals and was the breathtaking site of Make It Better’s cover and fashion (see page 82) photo shoots. You probably already know that Shedd is THE place in Chicago for families to visit and learn more about marine life, but here are five amazing things happening at Shedd that you may not have known about.

T H E WAT E R I S S U E

1 Shedd Aquarium is Doing its Part to Keep the Great Lakes Great 7 M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1

RTH SHORE CHICAGO AND NO

Chicago is just one of many cities nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, which provides impressive scenery, drinking water, employment and recreation. One of five, Lake Michigan is Chicago’s “Great Lake” and we depend on its health and therefore must protect it. Indeed, those that reside in the Great Lakes basin are part of 40 million people in the United States and Canada that depend on the lakes. Additionally, 3,500 plant and animal species — some found nowhere else on the planet — also call the Great Lakes home. By working with community partners and educating our local youth, Shedd Aquarium hopes to keep the lakes great now and into the future.

Great Lakes Action Days (GLADs) are days or events dedicated to cleaning up and protecting our local environments. Whether by removing invasive plants from forest preserves or picking up foreign objects off beaches, GLADs provide volunteers the opportunity to give back to the wild places in our backyard. We’ve worked with major corporations like MillerCoors and Coca-Cola, as well a small volunteer organizations and local schools.

No matter the circumstance, every volunteer is making a positive impact on the Great Lakes.

Dolphins soar in Shedd’s Abbott Oceanarium.

3 Shedd Stewards Shedd Stewards offers teens (grades 6 through 12) an opportunity to learn more about local ecosystems while participating in hands-on stewardship activities. Examples of recent program experiences include invasive buckthorn removal to restore forest habitats, canoeing on the Chicago River to learn about our waterways, and dandelion removal and exploration of how organic lawn care practices at Shedd contribute to the health of the Great Lakes.

4 High School Lake Ecology High School Lake Ecology (HSLE) is a summer course that provides the brightest high school students with the opportunity to adventure through the Great Lakes and get hands-on experience with lake ecology and conservation. After several classroom sessions, the students make their way up to Lake Superior to camp, kayak, research and examine Great Lakes ecosystems. Led by Great Lakes experts, the course provides a learning opportunity that immerses students in Great Lakes conservation.

5 Internships

Shedd experts remove invasive plant species during a Great Lakes Action Day.

Volunteers participate in a Shedd Beach Clean-Up by picking up foreign objects.

In addition to offsite learning opportunities, Shedd invites college students to join our Shedd team for seasonal internships. With focus areas ranging from animal care and water quality to volunteer services, Shedd’s interns help advance our mission.

Learn more about all of these opportunities at sheddaquarium.org.

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COVER PHOTO BY SHEDD AQUARIUM/BRENNA HERNANDEZ; BOTTOM PHOTOS COURTESY OF SHEDD AQUARIUM

2 Great Lakes Action Days

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FOUNDER’S LET TER

Water is not only essential to life, but being in, on or near it also makes life better. This is one of the reasons I’m particularly proud to share this issue with you.

Water has powers to refresh, restore, relax and rehabilitate. Recreational activities abound in and on water too. The articles that follow provide helpful tips and highlight outstanding resources to do all of this. (Please allow me to add a personal nod to rowing (see page 68). I love crew — the way it makes me feel, the crazy, determined, strong, funny, smart women attracted to it, the way we have to work well as a team not only to excel, but also just to get the boat in the water. There is no I in this team, for sure!)

LIFE IS BETTER WITH WATER

BY SUSAN B . NOYE S

Coincidentally, March 22 is World Water Day. Who knew? Now that we do, we will always celebrate this one. And, of course, April 22 is Earth Day. There is no beautiful, healthy earth to celebrate without clean, fresh water.

Watching the Chicago River flow past our downtown office inspires our staff as we produce each issue and cultivate a growing network of helpful resources.

We hope this issue and our work inspire you to enjoy the powers of water and to help protect, clean up and facilitate access to precious, life-giving clean water for all to.

Since Make It Better’s inception, it’s been our mission to inspire and fuel your passion to connect with and support outstanding organizations that work to make the world better. For the past decade, you’ve been sharing your stories with us, enabling us to communicate the successes of fantastic nonprofits with our entire audience. As we prepare to celebrate Make It Better’s 10th anniversary, I encourage you to tell us more success stories about your favorite organizations and projects so that we can continue to shine a light on these deserving people and programs. We will use your stories as part of our anniversary celebration.

Please send them to me at info@makeitbetter.net. Your feedback, recommendations, criticism and ideas are also always welcome.

With gratitude,

Susan B. Noyes

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The Mission of Make It Better is to be the most trusted, easiest-to-use community resource that helps you make your life and the lives of others better—online, in print and in person.

We accomplish this by providing the highest quality lifestyle content for our audience and connecting them to the businesses and nonprofits they support.

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PHOTO BY GEORGE PFOERTNER/KENILWORTH LIFE

I’m the short one without a hat.

This issue was inspired by Chicago’s unique location beside one of the largest bodies of fresh water in the world, as well as by our media sponsorship of events and collaborations intended to help clean up and use even more of Chicago’s River System. We’re delighted to be able to showcase Shedd Aquarium, one of the oldest and best aquariums in the world too. We believe that amplifying our city’s greatest strengths is the best antidote to dysfunctional politics and negative media.

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#CONTRIBUTORS

CONTRIBUTORS We asked some of this issue’s contributors: What’s your favorite way to spend time near water?

Heather Blackmore is a writer, photographer and gardener who loves historical fiction, any David Sedaris book and her husband’s bawdy jokes. She is a garden field editor for Meredith Corporation and writes for Country Gardens magazine, Chicagoland Gardening and Garden Guide. Heather lives in the southwest suburbs of Chicago with her husband and two teenage daughters.

“My kids and I love a summer downpour (provided there’s no lightening) and break for the door the moment it starts. The dog thinks we’re nuts and the neighbors stand on their porches to watch the silliness. And as we laugh and run I hope our rain dance will forever be a family tradition.”

Amber Gibson writes about food, wine, beauty and travel for Four Seasons Magazine, Hemispheres, American Way, Fodor’s, Saveur and Departures. After graduating as valedictorian from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she now traverses the world in search of interesting people and delicious eats from Kangaroo Island to Istanbul. Her weaknesses are champagne, dark chocolate and gelato. Follow her adventures on Instagram @amberyv “My favorite way to spend time near water is stand-up paddleboarding. It’s so relaxing and I feel like I’m at one with the ocean.”

Theater columnist Robert Loerzel is a freelance journalist and photographer in Chicago, who also writes for Playbill and other publications. His Twitter account, @robertloerzel, has more than 10,000 followers, and he won the Chicago Reader’s poll for “Best Chicagoan to Follow on Twitter” last year. He’s also the author of the book “Alchemy of Bones: Chicago’s Luetgert Murder Case of 1897,” and you can hear him occasionally on WBEZ’s “Curious City” show.

“I love taking in the sights whenever I walk along Lake Michigan’s shore — that beautiful blue water stretching out to the horizon as well as the city’s skyline. It’s a calming and refreshing experience.”

Kendra Thornton, president of Royal Travel & Tours, is a nationally recognized travel expert, spokesperson and TV news personality, making regular appearances on WGN-TV and CBS in Chicago as well as nationally on MSNBC, Fox News, CNN/ HLN, and broadcast affiliates across the country to discuss a broad range of travel topics. A graduate of Northwestern University, Thornton lives in Winnetka with her husband and three children. Follow her on Instagram @KendraThorntonTravel.

“My favorite way to spend time near water is on the beach with my family. The sounds of the waves crashing and my children laughing as they play in the sand and water fill me with great peace and happiness.”

Shannan Younger is a writer living in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband and teen daughter. Originally from Ohio, she received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Notre Dame. Her essays have been published in several anthologies and her work has been featured on a wide range of websites, from the Erma Bombeck Humor Writers Workshop to the BBC. She also blogs about parenting at Between Us Parents.

“My favorite way to spend time near water is on the Jungle Cruise at Walt Disney World, because I love water, Disney and funny puns.”

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Demetrius M. Maraganore, MD, Chairman of the Department of Neurology and Medical Director of NorthShore Neurological Institute.

HEALTHCARE for WHAT’S NEXT: PREVENTING THE ONSET OF ALZHEIMER’S

A bold new initiative, the Center for Brain Health is taking a novel approach to Alzheimer’s and related brain disorders like Parkinson’s disease and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

Research has shown that establishing healthy habits earlier in life can improve brain health later. So Center experts are using genetic testing, advanced diagnostics and lifestyle factors to predict aging-related brain disorders. And they’re protecting patients against these disorders with mental and physical exercise, and improved diet and sleep habits.

RISK FACTORS FOR ALZHEIMER’S It is critical to understand your risks for Alzheimer’s disease and related brain disorders. One of the greatest risks is a family history of the disease. Approximately 15 percent of the population carries a variation of the gene APOE, which can increase risk up to 15 times.

Genetic risks aside, women are twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer’s. Other risk factors include cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes, diet, high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, sleep disorders, smoking and stroke. Wherever possible, the Center is working to reduce the effects of these risks.

A DEDICATED TEAM, A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH The Center’s team of leading specialists includes neurologists, neuropsychologists, genetic counselors, physical and cognitive therapists, researchers, dietitians and lifestyle coaches. Together, they assess your risks and develop a plan specifically for you to help delay — and possibly prevent — brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s.

Your team might recommend blood and lab tests, brain imaging and neuropsychological testing to develop a plan to reduce your risks. Annual checkups will monitor your brain health, making sure lifestyle adjustments are working for you, reducing your risks.

At NorthShore Neurological Institute, they’re always exploring what’s next to improve brain health — and lives.

Neurological Institute (877) 570-7020 | northshore.org/neuro

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PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHSHORE UNIVERSITY HEALTHSYSTEM

The Center for Brain Health at NorthShore Neurological Institute is on a mission to prevent Alzheimer’s disease by improving brain health.

We’re actually preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Neurological care for what’s next.

At NorthShore Neurological Institute, our experts are renowned for treating Parkinson’s disease, concussion and other neurological disorders. And we’re always working on what’s next. From the latest treatments for migraines to preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s disease at our Center for Brain Health.

And our collaboration with Mayo Clinic gives you access to two innovative teams sharing knowledge and second opinions. At NorthShore, we’re providing answers to improve odds—and lives.

northshore.org/neuro (877) 570-7020 Neurological Institute

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PHOTO COURTESY OF REFUGEEONE

Thanks for all the emails, letters, tweets and Facebook messages this month! Here’s what you had to say:

Thanks for featuring RefugeeOne in the “Give Things” section of your November/December magazine.

We’ve received 190 calendars (and counting) from your readers.

Each calendar will go in the home of a refugee family who is brand new to Chicago. So many calendars feature beautiful images of the U.S. and inspiring quotes — perfect to grace the walls of their new homes.

-Sara Spoonheim, RefugeeOne

In response to “Are You at Risk for Breast Cancer?” (makeitbetter.net/breastcancer) […] I have shared [“Are You at Risk for Breast Cancer?”] with several people and places over the past two months. […] It truly is the most informative and direct piece I have seen that clearly explains to women how to lower their breast cancer risk. Being someone who has breast cancer and had none of the knowledge you published makes me very committed to trying to get this information to women for their breast health. -Patti Beyer In response to “Snow-Mobiles: 7 New Cars That Can Roll Over a Chicago Winter” (January/February) Giving free space to gas-guzzling and inferior SUVs and other cars is not consistent with “making it better.” How about an article on cars that are less harmful than the internal combustion devils featured in that article? People on the North Shore don’t need to be insulated from the EV revolution; in fact, I’m beginning to notice a large number of electrics on the North Shore (yes, I have one). Please don’t be a part of the problem in this respect. -LJ Hoke

Learn more about how you can support RefugeeOne, a Philanthropy Awards winner, at refugeeone.org.

Editor’s Response: Thank you for reaching out to Make It Better. You make a very fair point and we will be more mindful of recommending eco-friendly products in the future.

In the meantime, I hope you will check out our article on green cars that ran in July at makeitbetter.net/auto.

Read more “You Said It” online at MAKEITBETTER.NET/ YOUSAIDIT

I did see the July article, appreciated it, though it may be time for an update with the Chevrolet Bolt bringing electric cars to a new level of affordibility. We retired last January and went 10,000 miles in the Tesla S with Elon Musk paying for all the fuel at superchargers, and even slept in the car seven nights! People are unaware how much an electric car can change their life and the nation as we lower the world price of fossils and stop funding dictators. -LJ Hoke

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321 N. Clark, Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60654 | 847-256-4642 F ounder & Executive Director Susan B. Noyes

Publisher Michelle O’ Rourke Morris

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Francia Harrington

Strategy Officer

Chief Operating Officer Sandy Tsuchida

Editor In Chief Brooke McDonald Managing Editor Anna Carlson Digital Editor Will Mendelson Art Director Erica Barraca Designer January Thomas

Executive Sales Planner Gabrielle Tasiopoulos

Beauty Editor

Dining Editor

Finance Editor

Fitness Editor

Contributing Writers

Jenny Muslin Julie Chernoff Meghan Streit Christy Coughlin Rincey Abraham Heather Blackmore Megan Craig Amber Gibson Robert Loerzel Sarah Kuta Susan Pasternak Kendra Thornton Shannan Younger

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Make It Better North Shore (ISSN No. 2151-0431) is published 6 times per year by Make It Better LLC, 321 N. Clark Street, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60654 Phone: 847.256.4642. Copyright 2017

by Make It Better LLC. All rights reserved.

Application to Mail at Periodicals Rates is pending at Chicago, IL and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Make It Better, 321 N. Clark Street, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60654. Make It Better is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Copyright 2017 by Make It Better LLC. All rights reserved.

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Seattle’s Distinct Neighborhoods Exude Adventure It’s finally springtime, and that means nature is in full bloom ­— and what better place to take it all in than Seattle?! Check out all this beautiful city has to offer at one of the many outdoor cafes and markets. We’ve got you covered with the best spots to eat, drink and explore while you’re there.  MAKEITBETTER.NET/SEATTLE

Can You Make More Money By Job-Hopping?

It’s the age-old question: Does hopping from one job to the next hurt, or help, an employee? With so much that’s changed in today’s modern working world, can you actually make more money by leaving one opportunity for the next and making a pattern of it?

Learn the truth.  MAKEITBETTER.NET/JOBHOP

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Date Night: Bringing Sexy Back

5 Chicago Housing Nonprofits to Support

Winter’s over, and that means it’s time to get out of the house and hit the town! Spice things up this spring with a sexy date night out. We’ll tell you how to make your next romantic evening with that special someone the best one yet.

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# W H AT S N E W

BY WILL MENDELSON

Kal’ish, a short-order vegan restaurant, celebrated its grand opening in mid-January. Owners Gina and Andy Kalish, who also manage the Ravenswood Event Center, were thrilled to open a vegan restaurant in the neighborhood they’ve called home for 20 years that caters to vegans and meat-eaters alike. Kal’ish features animal-free takes on classic American favorites and also offers gluten- and nut-free dishes. A Sunday brunch menu includes plant-based versions of brunch staples like eggs, French toast, and biscuits and gravy. KAL’ISH: 1313 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago, 773-293-7768, kalishvegan.com

Work Together

LifeWorking Coworking, a new co-working office, provides a hotspot for small business owners, entrepreneurs, startups and corporate telecommuters in search of that coveted work-life balance.

Founder Steve Whittington, a military veteran and businessmanturned-entrepreneur, opened the 8,000-square-foot space in October, complete with natural lighting and an open-air setting.

The office features two different membership options that include perks like premium individual workspace, conference rooms, kitchen access, phone and Wi-Fi services, and complimentary access to networking events, lunches and other special events.

LIFEWORKING COWORKING: 717 Forest Ave., 2nd floor, Lake Forest, 847-457-2662, mylifeworking.com

Top Secret

Go Greek

DOX Quality Greek, a chef-driven and fast casual Greek restaurant, opened in December. Founded by Greek Kitchen owner Peter Thanoukos and Executive Chef Christos Fasseas, DOX brings the authentic flavors of Chef Christos’ hometown of Athens to the heart of Wicker Park. Dox features the best of Greek street food in dishes meant to be shared, such as handcrafted pitas, fresh and festive salads and a la carte kabobs, and sources organic, local, farm-fresh meat. A fullservice bar features handcrafted cocktails and a selection of craft beers are on tap. And for dessert? The homemade Greek mini-doughnuts are not to be missed. DOX QUALITY GREEK: 1566 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, 872-829-3144, doxchicago.com 28

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SafeHouse Chicago, which opened in January, brings the best of Milwaukee’s spy-themed restaurant SafeHouse to downtown Chicago. The brainchild of Greg Marcus, president and CEO of the restaurant’s owner The Marcus Corp, SafeHouse Chicago offers a menu fit for a secret agent, with items like Licensed to Kill Cheese Macaroni, the Spy Burger and Fried C4 Cheese Curds. The space, designed by The Gettys Group, is complete with original espionage artifacts, including the flight deck from a spy plane donated by the World War II soldier who flew it. And just like its original location, customers, also known as “agents,” can only enter through a secret entrance or by knowing the password. Count us in for this mission. SAFEHOUSE CHICAGO: 60 E. Ontario St., Chicago, 312-981-6633, safehousechicago.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EACH BUSINESS

Not Your Average Vegan

# C E L E B R AT E

BY WILL MENDELSON

The Morton Arboretum

The Morton Arboretum celebrated 1 million visitors for the second year in a row in December 2016, making it one of only seven public gardens in the U.S. to achieve this milestone. After 94 years in operation, the Arboretum has continued to grow in membership, with 44,074 members currently. According to the Arboretum’s press release, the garden surprised its 1-millionth visitor, Eldon Davis, with “special gifts and lunch from the Arboretum.” Joy Morton, founder of the Morton Salt Company, founded the Arboretum in 1922. Learn more at mortonarb.org. The Morton Arboretum: 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, 630-968-0074, mortonarb.org

Music Institute of Chicago

Writers Theatre celebrated its achievement in LEED Gold certification on Jan. 30 for “implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality,” according to the Theatre’s press release. Learn more at usgbc-illinois.org.

Writers Theatre : 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, 847-242-6000, writerstheatre.org

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Susan Abrams, Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

Susan Abrams, CEO of Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, was honored by the Stevie Awards for Women In Business with a gold medal as Innovator of the Year and silver medal as Executive of the Year. Abrams was noted for her “extraordinary leadership to the Illinois Holocaust Museum”

by J.B. Pritzker, immediate past chair of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. Make It Better is proud to collaborate with the museum on many programs that Abrams champions. Learn more at stevieawards.com.

Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center: 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, 847-967-4800, illinoisholocaustmuseum.org

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EACH ORGANIZATION

Writers Theatre

The Music Institute of Chicago celebrated the establishment of a new downtown Chicago campus on Jan. 30. The Institute has partnered with Chicago landmark St. James Cathedral to offer lessons Monday-Saturday just one block from The Magnificent Mile. The new campus “welcomes all students, including beginners and casual players, as well as advanced musicians,” according to a press release, and the new campus “allows the Institute to reach more students who are hungry for music education,” according to Mark George, CEO and president of the Institute. Learn more at musicinst.org/fun.

Music Institute of Chicago: 300 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, 847-905-1500, musicinst.org

Cubs, you gave us baseball in November and, in neighborhoods across this city, fireworks in fall.

You gave us an energy and excitement most of us haven’t felt in a lifetime. It may be a new year but we have the same goal. CUBS, LET’S BRING IT HOME!

NEW YEAR .

SAME GOAL .

SHOW SUPPORT FOR YOUR TEAM WITH

CUBS CHECKING! Only $100 required to open.

FEATURING CHICAGO’S ONLY WORLD CHAMPION CUBS MASTERCARD® DEBIT CARD1 PLUS, use any ATM nationwide and we’ll refund the fee!2

Legacy Partner of the With over 150 locations across Chicagoland, visit wintrust.com/findus to find one near you!

WE’RE PROUD TO BRING IT HOME. As a company made in this area, for this area, Wintrust and its family of true community banks is dedicated to the unique neighborhoods each serves. For 25 years, we’ve been banks that invest in, give back to, and get to really know our communities and the people living in them.

When you bank with a Wintrust Community Bank, you can be confident your money is going back into the things that matter most to you.

Banking products provided by Wintrust Financial Corp. Banks. MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated. Chicago Cubs trademarks and copyrights proprietary to Chicago Cubs.

Used with permission. 1. Overdraft fees may apply. 2. The bank does not charge its customers a monthly card usage fee. No transaction charge at any ATM in the Allpoint, MoneyPass, or Sum surcharge-free networks.

Other banks outside the network may impose ATM surcharges at their machines. Surcharge fees assessed by owners of other ATMs outside the network will be reimbursed. Reimbursement does not include the 1.10% International Service fee for certain foreign transactions conducted outside the continental United States.

#EVENTS

R E C O M M E N D E D

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

BY ANNA CARLSON

MARCH

editor’s pick

ScreenBreak 2017: POWER UP Your Imagination!

5 March 5-11 Various | theallianceforec.org Join the Alliance for Early Childhood as local families turn off their devices and explore events around the North Shore instead. The kick-off event on March 5 will feature a performance by Laura Doherty and The Heartbeats.

MAR

Fiesta Ravinia

JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival MAR March 9-19 9 Various | jccchicago.org This sometimes funny, sometimes thought-provoking, always inspiring film festival is back after more than 3,000 people attended last year’s event. It all kicks off with a preview party March 5.

Asleep With the Fishes MAR March 10, 24, April 7 10 Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago sheddaquarium.org Spend an evening at the Shedd, where you’ll go on a scavenger hunt, watch an aquatic presentation, explore exhibits, eat dinner and breakfast and more.

Chicago Flower & Garden Show MAR March 18-26 18 Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago | chicagoflower.com As it (hopefully!) begins to warm up, find inspiration for your garden at this annual show. Sit in on seminars like “Arthritis in the Garden — How to Lower Chronic Pain Without Medicines” and “Magnolias for the Chicago Area,” walk through feature gardens, watch cooking demonstrations and more. Plus, HGTV and DIY Network host Ahmed Hassan will discuss the evolution of landscape gardening.

Evening in Bloom, a charity preview benefit, will take place March 17.

Malika Ameen at Lake Forest Book Store MAR March 22 22 662 N. Western Ave., Lake Forest lakeforestbookstore.com Chicago’s own Malika Ameen, author of the cookbook “Sweet Sugar, Sultry Spice: Exotic Flavors to Wake Up Your Baking” (one of our picks for the best cookbooks of 2016 for gifting), will stop by the Lake Forest Book Store — and you’ll leave inspired to spice up your own baking.

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TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHICAGO HUMANITES FESTIVAL

Springfest/2017: Stuff April 28-30 Various chicagohumanities.org Chicago Humanities Festival’s Springfest/17 will feature more than 20 programs that take a look at “our relation to objects, the things we covet, treasure, or deem disposable.” Speakers include Sheryl Sandberg, Adam Grant and Marie Kondo.

APR

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#EVENTS

Chicago Flower & Garden Show

TOP LEFT PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHICAGO FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW; BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO COURTESY OF CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN; RIGHT PHOTO (C) SHEDD AQUARIUM-BRENNA HERNANDEZ

Chicago Botanic Garden

Shedd Aquarium

Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín MAR March 23 23 Chicago Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago | cso.org Defiant Requiem is a multimedia production that tells the story of Jewish prisoners at Theresienstadt Concentration Camp (Terezín) who performed Verdi’s Requiem as an act of resistance. The concert includes a full performance of Verdi’s Requiem, on-stage drama, video interviews and more. This event will also raise funds for Holocaust survivors through the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago’s Holocaust Community Services program.

artists and classical music. The concert will feature guest conductor Michael Morgan, pianist Sara Davis Buechner and the Allegrezza Singers.

More Than a Letter March 25, 27 MAR 25 Wentz Concert Hall, North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville; Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago | chicagosinfonietta.org You have two chances to see Chicago Sinfonietta’s second-to-last concert of the season, which will celebrate LGBTQ

Earth Day Walk APR April 22 22 Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe chicagobotanic.org Celebrate Earth Day by exploring McDonald Woods, where spring wildflowers will be in bloom. Guests will also learn about the Garden’s history and restoration efforts.

APRIL

Fool’s Lake Leap APR April 1 1 Lloyd Beach, 799 Sheridan Road, Winnetka | winpark.org Don your most foolish getup for a jump in the lake. Afterward, warm up by the bonfire with refreshments. Register

by March 9 to be guaranteed a commemorative shirt and novelty glasses with a fake nose and mustache.

“Motherhood Out Loud” APR Opens April 27 27 Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road, Glenview | oillamptheater.org This collection of stories on adoption to stepmothers and everything in between has had audiences around the country raving. See it for yourself at Best of 2016 winner Oil Lamp Theater.

86th Annual Waa-Mu Show: Beyond Belief: A Superhero Story Opens April 28 APR 28 Cahn Auditorium, Northwestern University, 600 Emerson, Evanston communication.northwestern.edu/waamu For 86 years, Northwestern students have been creating original musicals called the Waa-Mu Show, what the Associated Press has called “the greatest college show in America.” This year’s musical is a superhero story fit for the entire family.

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#EVENTS

MARCH/APRIL

HIGHLIGHTS

BY ANNA CARLSON

“…Because I Love You: A Comedy About Parenting” Opens March 4 Gorilla Tango Theatre Chicago, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago | gorillatango.com Ina Garten: A Conversation With the Barefoot Contessa March 9 Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont | rosemont.com Mom and Son Sport Night March 10 Sachs Recreation Center, 455 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield | deerfieldparks.org Midwest Young Artists Conservatory Benefit March 11 Westin North Shore, 601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling | mya.org National Museum of Mexican Art Public Tour March 11 1852 W. 19th St., Chicago nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org Special Presentation: Intelligence Challenges in the 21st Century March 19 Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie ilholocaustmuseum.org Saints and Heroes: Art of Medieval and Renaissance Europe Opens March 20 Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago | artic.edu “Grace Notes: My Recollections”

by Katey Sagal March 24 Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago | thebookstall.com 3 4 M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7

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“Chicago” Opens March 30 Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace | drurylanetheatre.com GayCo Presents Love Is Love Is Love Handles: A Comedy Variety Hour March 31 Metropolis Performing Arts Center, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights metropolisarts.com

APRIL

Billy Crystal April 1-2 The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago | thechicagotheatre.com 2017 Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship April 6, 8 United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago | ncaa.com Northshore Baconfest April 8 Historic Wagner Farm, 1510 Wagner Road, Glenview | glenviewparks.org Anna Fedorova April 22 Bennett Gordon Hall, 201 St. Johns Ave., Highland Park | ravinia.org “She Loves Me” Opens April 26 Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire | marriotttheatre.com One of a Kind Show and Sale Chicago: Spring Show April 28-30 Merchandise Mart, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago oneofakindshowchicago.com

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (Mother/Daughter) April 29 West Ridge Center, 636 Ridge Road, Highland Park | pdhp.org

MAKE IT BETTER IS A PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR OF THESE EVENTS:

Holy Trinity High School Guardians of Hope Dinner March 3 guardiansofhope.weebly.com Family Matters’ 2017 Gala March 4 familymatterschicago.org/gala Lookingglass Theatre Company’s Glassquerade 2017 March 11 lookingglasstheatre.org Women’s Philanthropy Institute’s DREAM. DARE. DO. Women, Philanthropy, and Civil Society March 14-15 philanthropy.iupui.edu Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana’s Tribute to Achievement March 16 girlscoutsgcnwi.org Alzheimer’s Association’s Reason to Hope April 6: Oak Brook | April 20: North Shore | April 27: Chicago reasontohopeil.org LAUNCH: Driving Fashion Forward April 9 launchfashionshow.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

MARCH

Edward Kemeys, Lions. Bronze with Green patina.

Gift of Mrs. Henry Field, 1898.1a-b. The Art Institute of Chicago. The lions are the registered trademarks of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Saints

Heroes &

The New Deering Family Galleries of Medieval and Renaissance Art, Arms, and Armor Grand Opening: March 20–June 18 The Deering Family Galleries of Medieval and Renaissance Art, Arms, and Armor are made possible by the extraordinary lead support of The Chauncey and Marion D. McCormick Family Foundation, Laurie V. and James N. Bay, Linda and Vincent Buonanno, The Edwardson Family Foundation, and The Estate of Arthur Maling. Major support is generously provided by the Deering Foundation and Mr. and Mrs. William C. Vance. Additional funding has been contributed by Mr. and Mrs. William R. Jentes, Richard Gradkowski, Holly and John W. Madigan, Mae Svoboda Rhodes, Daniel T. Manoogian, and the historic commitments of Marilynn Alsdorf, Kate Sturges Buckingham, and Bea and Herman M. Silverstein.

Inaugural Sponsor

Armor for Man and Horse, about 1520 with modern costume. South German, Nuremberg. George F. Harding Collection.

#MAKEADIFFERENCE

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE… B Y S A R A H K U TA

These Six Nonprofits are Bringing Clean Water to the Places That Need It Most Eight-year-old Huda collects water and takes a quick sip from a tap stand in western Aleppo.

In many regions, people must walk for miles to find water, then scoop it into heavy containers and walk back to their homes.

Often, women and girls are responsible for this work, spending hours each day in their quest for water.

Even then, the water they consume is often contaminated.

According to the World Health Organization, contaminated drinking water is responsible for 502,000 deaths each year.

Many communities also lack adequate sanitation facilities, furthering the spread of deadly diseases. Lack of access to these facilities also sometimes has the effect of leading young girls to drop out of school.

Luckily, there are groups focused on bringing reliable water and sanitation systems to the countries that need it most. Here are six nonprofits doing good in the world of water.

1 charity: water New York-based charity: water raises money and invests it in organizations around the world. So far, they’ve funded water programs in 24 countries in Africa, Asia, Central America and South America. The group works with local experts and residents to find the best solution to the water crisis in each community. Their local partners also coordinate training around sanitation and hygiene and establish a local water committee to look to the future. charitywater.org 2 Thirst Project Based in Los Angeles, Thirst Project aims to foster a generation of young people who care about ending the water crisis. The group educates students and encourages them to build water projects around the world. Since 2008, the Thirst Project has worked with more than 300,000 students, raised $8 million and provided clean water to over 280,000 people in 13 different countries. thirstproject.org

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3 Water.org Founded in 1990 by Matt Damon and Gary White, Water.org looks for practical economic solutions to the water crisis beyond charity. This group works alongside organizations in communities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. All of their water projects are self-sustaining so that communities can independently operate and maintain them. water.org 4 The Water Project Through community engagement and education, the Water Project builds water wells, dams and spring protections in Kenya, Uganda and Sierra Leone. The group recruits, trains, equips and works with local, in-country partners to develop clean water projects. Working with their local partners, the Water Project establishes defined goals for each project to ensure they’re sustainable. thewaterproject.org 5 WATERisLIFE The team behind WATERisLIFE developed a high-tech straw that can be used to provide clean drinking water from any source. The 10-inch plastic straw acts as a portable water purifier and contains membranes, iodized crystals and active carbon, which removes waterborne bacteria and viruses. The group says the straws are meant to be an emergency solution to the water crisis. After straws are distributed in a community, the WATERisLIFE team commits to coming up with a longer-term solution within a year. waterislife.com 6 UNICEF

UNICEF works to provide clean water in more than 100 countries and is currently trucking in 6 million liters of clean water to Aleppo, Syria. According to UNICEF, it’s estimated that women and girls spend 200 million hours collecting water every day, which means they have less time to spend with family or attend school. Water and sanitation-related diseases are also one of the leading causes of death for children 5 years old and younger. unicefusa.org Read more MAKEITBETTER.NET/PHILANTHROPY

PHOTO © UNICEF/AL-ISSA

Though it’s scary to think about issues with our drinking water here in the United States (read more on page 58), other countries have far bigger problems when it comes to accessing clean water for bathing, drinking and cooking.

W H AT E V ER YO U R

Reason to Hope is a powerful one-hour luncheon designed to educate the community about the Alzheimer’s Association while raising funds to support Alzheimer’s research, programs and services.

Over the past eight years, Reason to Hope has raised over $1.2 million to help provide care and support for Illinois residents, as well as advance the field of Alzheimer’s research.

By participating in a Reason to Hope event, you can help make a difference in the lives of the 220,000 people living with Alzheimer’s in Illinois and the estimated 590,000 caregivers.

OAK BROOK Thursday, April 6, 2017 | 12 - 1 p.m.

Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus Honoring Stan Mikita and Family NORTH SHORE Thursday, April 20, 2017 | 12 - 1 p.m.

The Glen Club Honoring Bob Chinn and Family CHICAGO Thursday, April 27, 2017 | 12 - 1 p.m.

Hyatt Regency Honoring Marshall Brodien and Mary Doyle Brodien For more Information, contact Katie Lane at kmlane@alz.org or call 847.324.0359.

JOIN US FOR A POWERFUL ONE-HOUR LUNCHEON DESIGNED TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE.

# R E A L E#SHTOAM TE

Howard Van Doren Shaw-designed Glencoe home, built in 1918, set on 2.3 acres with more than 350 feet of private shoreline with a beach and dock; listed by Deutsch and Handler-Dickstein of Coldwell Banker for $8 million. (top) 4-bedroom vintage Mediterranean in Highland Park with panoramic views, inground pool, tiered gardens and stone steps to 168 feet of private beach; listed by Deutsch and Handler-Dickstein of Coldwell Banker for $3.75 million. (left)

ON THE WATER

BY MEGAN CRAIG

In the world of desirable real estate, there’s almost nothing that tops a waterfront property. Local brokers Julie Deutsch, Jody Handler-Dickstein and Linda Levin weigh in on why a home on the lake is a great investment.

When it comes to homes in the Chicago area, few amenities match the value added by being on the lakefront.

towns surrounding it, says Linda Levin of Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty in Chicago.

“Anything on the lake is golden,” says Julie Deutsch, a broker with Coldwell Banker Real Estate in Glencoe. “That is where most people aspire to live.”

“Everyone focuses on the body of water when they buy in certain neighborhoods,” Levin says. “Water offers beauty, water offers recreation, and it’s peaceful. It’s always prime.”

Deutsch, along with colleague and fellow broker Jody HandlerDickstein, has a lot of experience selling homes along the water — the duo call themselves “the luxury listers on the lakefront.”

Even the soothing sounds of the water increase the properties’ value, Handler-Dickstein says.

“There’s always a scarcity of good property available on the lake, especially those with a beautiful landscape and bluffs that stare at the beach,” Handler-Dickstein says. “It’s for an exclusive buyer.

There are no neighbors in your backyard.”

Many of the streets that border the lake have, if not perfect lake views, at least lake access. These homes come with keys to a gate that leads to a private beach, Deutsch says.

The closer you get to the lake, the more expensive the homes, she says.

“People will buy the land at a surplus simply because it’s on the lake,” Deutsch adds.

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And the always-in-style nature of waterfront homes means that value holds better than it might for inland homes, Levin says.

“There’s definitely some benefit, investment-wise, because people always want water,” she says. “There’s always some risk involved in buying property, but being on the water reduces some of that risk. There’s longevity in that, and peace of mind.”

Although the actual value of a property depends on the specific market, lot size and condition of the house, “you’ll never overimprove a house on the lake,” Deutsch says. A homeowner can make vast changes and pour money into the property, and it won’t be wasted because lakefront properties hold their value.

That’s probably because there’s no real downside to living on the lake, Deutsch says. Because the homes are built on properties that look down to the water, flooding isn’t an issue and erosion isn’t a concern. Only potential hazards — for example, the risk of having small children near lots of stairs leading down to the water — could be seen as a negative, Levin says.

“In each town bordering Lake Michigan, the lots are not plentiful, so when something does come up and it’s got the views and the beach and the acreage, it could go for a lot of money,” HandlerDickstein says. “It’s just not something you can find inland.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF COLDWELL BANKER REAL ESTATE

They are currently selling several homes on the water, including a listing in Highland Park that sits on a bluff and features a wide stairway access down to the lake, along with a “lake room” — a huge, 20-foot-high party room built into the bluff. They’ve also both seen funiculars, or outdoor elevators, on such properties (and had a client install one for about $80,000).

ColdwellBankerPreviews.com

HIGHLAND PARK

$9,900,000

GOLD COAST

$7,000,000

HIGHLAND PARK

$3,850,000

Four spectacular lakefront acres with a 408-foot private beach, 1st-floor master, pool and sports court. 8 bedrooms, 10.1 baths.

Incredible full-floor residence at The Palmolive with expansive views. Chef’s kitchen with butler’s pantry.

A total gem!

Exceptional newer home close to the beach. An idyllic retreat on wooded, private 1.5 acres.

Julie Deutsch Sharon Friedman

Brian Loomis

Barbara Tarr Glo Matlin

GOLD COAST

847-217-1277 847-867-0052

$2,500,000

NEAR NORTH

773-251-6915

$1,850,000

GLENCOE

847-826-3043 847-951-4040

$1,699,000

Incredible residence at The Palmolive. 3 bedrooms with en suite bath, wall of windows, eat-in kitchen plus parking.

3,100+ square feet, renovated 3 bedroom plus office at the Park Newberry with beautiful 4-season views of Washington Park.

Stately Colonial boasting high quality craftsmanship.

Set on .40 acres with private beach rights!

Brian Loomis

Elizabeth Ballis

Glo Matlin Jessica Rosien

DUNE ACRES, IN

773-251-6915

$1,199,000

Private, gated beach community 55 minutes from Chicago. 7,500 square feet, 2 minute walk to beach!

3-car garage.

Dawn Bernhardt

219-241-0952

WILMETTE

312-867-8166

$1,100,000

HIGHLAND PARK

847-835-6000 608-320-9833

$899,000

Stunning, spacious and finished to perfection! 4 bedrooms, 3.2 baths, volume ceilings, awesome family room.

Stunning home backs to nature. Open concept with first-floor master suite and library; two en suite bedrooms upstairs.

Taylor Lindstrom Denise M. Kellar

Carol Strauss

847-404-8900 847-650-9595

847-370-8833

Experience Is The Difference ©2017 Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker Logo, Coldwell Banker Previews International and the Coldwell Banker Previews International logo are registered and unregistered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.

# WAT E R

BIG BLUE WORLD

BY BROOKE MCDONALD

PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG

Water, our most essential natural resource, is also arguably our most precious. On the following pages, we explore the many ways water not only sustains, but enhances, our lives. From relaxation to rehabilitation, hydration to recreation, beauty to wonder, water inspires, supports and fulfills us, and it is our duty to take care of this most treasured life source.

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# WAT E R

Wallace J. Nichols

#WATERISLIFE

THE BLUE MARBLES PROJECT

BY SHANNAN YO U NGER

How — and why — marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols started a movement inspiring people to share random acts of “blue” gratitude around the world.

That photograph stimulated marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols to start the Blue Marbles Project in 2009. He has since shared blue marbles with millions of people around the world. The marbles celebrate our beautiful and fragile planet and carry the message that water is life.

Nichols also authored the bestseller, “Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do.” In a review, The Washington Post described the book as “a fascinating study of the emotional, behavioral, psychological and physical connections that keep humans so enchanted with water.

Nichols examines seas and oceans, lakes and rivers, even swimming pools and the contents of our bathtubs in a study that is both highly readable and rooted in real research.”

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Make It Better recently had the opportunity to talk with Nichols about the Blue Marbles Project and the power of water.

How does the Blue Marbles Project work?

I ask people to hold their marble up at arm’s length and ponder it for a second, and realize that’s what we look like from a million miles away — we are small and blue. That’s because we are a water planet. Life comes from water.

Water covers three quarters of our planet, most of our body is made of water, our brains are mostly water. While we live on a very small planet relative to the universe, everything we do matters and has impact and ripple effect.

People are then asked to give the marble away to someone as a token of gratitude. You can give it away whenever you like. I gave marbles to two young brothers today and they didn’t want to give them away too quickly. That’s okay.

Whenever you give it away, the giver shares a version of the story with the recipient.

Why a blue marble?

A blue marble is a simple, memorable, poignant, physical

PHOTO BY NEIL EVER OSBORNE

The image of Earth captured by the crew of Apollo 17 is a stunning shot of the planet we call home. It is commonly known as the Blue Marble Shot and is considered one of the most reproduced photographs of all time. The Blue Marble has inspired awe for millions, and for one man, it sparked a movement.

# WAT E R

Nichols founded the Blue Marbles Project in 2009.

gift that people remember. It attaches them to the person who gave it, the context, and it feels good.

When you hold the marble up to your eye, you see bubbles and such. It is far more complex than you would first think.

Similarly, think about what would be in that amount of seawater, which has every element of the universe in it.

The blue marble serves as a reminder of our physical and biological connection to water and also our cognitive, social and spiritual connection. That’s often left out in my field of ocean advocacy.

How did the Blue Marbles Project begin?

As a marine biologist and ocean advocate, a lot of what I was hearing about and what my colleagues were lecturing about was really bad news. Relentless bad news is not motivating.

I wanted to be useful and helpful. It led me to think differently about how we communicate what is essentially bad news. If your style of communication leads to inaction, that’s not the goal. The more I read about psychology and cognitive science, a positive attitude is incredibly important, even in the face of bad news. If you want to motivate people to get involved and change behavior and be creative, don’t be pessimistic. Be positive.

PHOTO BY NEIL EVER OSBORNE

I gave a lecture at the New England Aquarium in Boston in their IMAX auditorium, which means my slides were seven stories tall. The last slide is the Blue Marble photo. I had passed out blue marbles as people walked in and then at the end as they viewed the image, I told them to take their marble, pass it on to someone to whom they want to say thank you, and tell them a version of the story.

Were you surprised at the initial response to the blue marbles?

The feedback from that talk was better than any other presentation. People told stories about who they gave their marble to. Giving a marble is a really simple, very clear, heartfelt gesture of gratitude.

Gratitude, love and beauty are very motivating. Guilt, fear and too much information aren’t good for building a movement.

Nichols is the author of “Blue Mind.”

I thought this was the best teaching tool I’ve ever used, so I’m going to keep doing it. Then teachers were asking for marbles, and it’s gone from there. We’ve shared 1 million blue marbles all around the world.

What compelled you to write your book, “Blue Mind”?

Thinking about water, looking at water, even the color blue changes us. Get into the bath and it feels good. That feeling is based on a shift in neurochemistry. We often take that for granted. Take a vacation on the water or a walk along Lake Michigan and you feel good. Even if it’s a crummy day, being by the water feels good. As a scientist, I got more curious about why that is.

I thought there would be a book about the psychology of water and I tried to find it. It hadn’t been written. I still wanted to read it, so I tried to get other people to write it. Instead, the message I got back was that I should write it. So I did.

I went from being a marine ecologist studying sea turtle migration to learning a lot about psychology and neuroscience.

You mention the numerous positive effects water has on us, so why is it that we don’t value water as a resource more than we do?

There is a disconnect there and we are all a bit to blame for it.

How we teach about nature encourages that disconnect.

We take kids on field trips to lakes, rivers and oceans and teach them about the ecology. As an ecologist, I think that’s important. But we don’t teach them that they are the coowners of the lake, that they can come any time they like and use it to help them calm themselves down or to be inspired to be more creative. Teachers should ask kids, “How do you feel here? How does it feel different than the classroom?”

We should also be teaching the psychological cognitive benefits of having healthy, accessible lakes or rivers nearby. It’s so simple, but so absent from our curricula and teaching. I’m hoping that the textbooks of the future stop leaving it out.

Read more at MAKEITBETTER.NET/BOOKS M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7

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# WAT E R

Metropolitan Planning Council aims to improve Chicago rivers by 2040.

CHICAGO’S RIVERS NEED US — AND WE NEED THEM B Y M E T R O P O L I TA N P L A N N I N G C O U N C I L

Would you believe that it’s possible we could be swimming in Chicago’s rivers by 2030? It’s true! But to make that prospect a reality, we all need to contribute to the efforts to make Chicago’s rivers better than ever. Metropolitan Planning Council is leading the charge. Here’s how you can help.

Now it’s time to go the rest of the way, to restore those bonds with our great rivers.

Our Great Rivers is the city’s first-ever long-term vision for the Calumet, Chicago and Des Plaines rivers. The nonprofit Metropolitan Planning Council worked with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the City of Chicago, Friends of the Chicago River and dozens more partners to identify some 100 actions we can take to dramatically improve Chicago’s rivers by 2040.

We organized more than 100 events to engage some 6,000 Chicagoans in sharing their ideas for our rivers, including nine community open houses, paddling excursions, bike rides, boat tours, site walks, factory visits, design charrettes and more. We also dug into reams of past reports and findings, and conducted original research.

While we did our best to reach everyone we could, we know that many more people throughout the region would like to 4 4 M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7

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shape our rivers’ future. We need everyone: property owners, business leaders, philanthropists, elected officials, teachers and students, paddlers and fishers, artists and more!

What we give to our rivers, they’ll give back in the form of solace, movement, nature and places to connect with each other and ourselves. Our great rivers can rejuvenate communities and ecosystems, bring us closer to wildlife and build our economy.

Chicago, your vision is that our rivers will be inviting, living and productive places by 2040. While government will need to lead on activities such as ending combined sewer overflows, reinvigorating sustainable economic productivity along the rivers, and even just putting signs on bridges to remind people “there’s a river down there,” it’s up to all of us to be advocates for our rivers. Just as we have long protected our lakefront, it’s our persistence, philanthropy and enthusiasm that will build a future for our rivers that is better than the present.

So join us. Make the Chicago, Calumet and Des Plaines your rivers — collectively, our great rivers — today.

Learn more at GREATRIVERSCHICAGO.COM and donate to the effort at METROPLANNING.ORG/DONATE.

PHOTO COURTESY OF METROPOLITAN PLANNING COUNCIL

For too long, our bonds with our rivers have been broken.

Thanks to a relative few advocates driven by a commitment to our rivers’ incredible potential, we have begun to mend past and present transgressions. We’ve even created truly great new experiences along our rivers, such as downtown Chicago’s Riverwalk, which give us all reason to strive for more.

View Venue with a

Seeing is believing aboard Chicago’s First Lady Cruises. Each private, luxury cruise offers guests best-in-class service, premier catering, high-end amenities and something you won’t find inside any boardroom or ballroom: one-of-a-kind city views that are sure to amaze. Cruise the river or lakefront and give your guests an event they’ll never forget.

For more information, visit CruiseChicago.com or call 847.358.1330

D E PA RT I N G F R O M M I C H I G A N AV E N U E A N D WAC K E R D R I V E O N C H I C AG O ’ S R I V E R WA L K

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#HOME

Eco-conscious buyers are option for high-efficiency washer/dryers like thse by LG.

WATERSHED TIMES California’s crippling five-year drought may finally be over for now, but it made national headlines and reminded us how important water conservation is not only globally, but also at the individual level. With water currently being consumed at an unsustainable rate, consumers, appliance manufacturers and governments are looking to technology for solutions that save water without compromising performance.

Californians regularly face a recurring climate crisis: drought.

The most recent drought has lasted six years, impacting much of the state severely and requiring lawmakers and residents to respond with measures from disallowing lawn-sprinkler use on certain days to ripping out lawns in their entirety and replacing them with plastic turf. Thanks to an exceptionally wet winter, the drought seems to finally be ending, but experts warn that even with record-breaking rain and snowfall in 2017, there’s still not going to be enough water to sustain Californians’ use in the longer term. They say another drought is inevitable, so the state will need to continue to prepare and respond accordingly.

During this most recent drought, Janet Rich, who lives in Thousand Oaks, California, didn’t want to lose the natural beauty of her real grass front lawn. So she looked online for an alternative, and found one: Drought Grid, a drip system built under her lawn that has allowed her to go sprinkler-free.

“Many of the homes in my neighborhood have changed to pebbles or Astroturf because of the drought and the increased price of water,” Rich says. “I knew I didn’t want that, but when the water started going up, I started looking for alternatives.

And this is absolutely gorgeous.”

Rich isn’t sure exactly how much money she’s saving off her water bill each month, but she’s happy to be saving the environment anyway.

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More and more, people throughout the country — even in the Midwest, where water is plentiful in comparison to California — are realizing the need to cut down on water consumption, says Matt Bentley, vice president of Novak and Parker Home Appliance in Mount Prospect.

“The rate at which we consumed water for decades is categorically and fundamentally unsustainable; even more so when you account for the population’s growth expectations for the next 30 years,” he says.

That means consumers, appliance manufacturers and even state and local governments are trying to find ways to lessen the amount of water used in the average home, Bentley says.

Balancing Efficiency and Effectiveness Although conservation is key in many homes, there’s a catch: People expect both premium features in their appliances — “smart connectivity, active interfaces, premium designs, superior installation qualities and, of course, energy-efficient and water-conscious technologies,” Bentley says — all without giving up performance.

“High-efficiency” top-loading washing machines are a great example of how necessary that balance is. In 2010-11, sales surged (partially thanks to legislated stimulus incentives) on the machines, which use less water but have longer cycle times and lacked the traditional “wash action” people were used to

LAUNDRY ROOM AND KTICHEN BY REYNOLDS ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION; PHOTOS BY NATHAN KIRKMAN; LAWN PHOTOS COURTESY OF JANET RICH

BY MEGAN CRAIG

seeing to make them feel their clothes were being adequately cleaned, Bentley says. That dip in consumer confidence also meant a huge drop in sales.

But manufacturers are taking initiative to make high-efficiency washers into a dream appliance for water conservationists.

In fact, a combination of several new technologies may well be the answer to the question of how to best conserve water at home.

For water-saving showerheads, faucets and toilets, homeowners can turn to Kohler/Kallista appliances, says Doug Reynolds of Reynolds Architecture, Design & Construction in Northfield.

Kohler/Kallista conforms to CalGreen standards, which are the strictest in the country. DTV (digital thermostatic valve) technology in these appliances also allows the homeowner to program the length of the shower, making it harder to take a very long shower without realizing it.

These high-end appliances make conserving water easier, Reynolds says.

Technology as a Gateway to Conservation Still, having the technology to conserve water probably isn’t enough by itself to make the largest impact.

“It’s important for people to understand that water is not a limitless resource,” Reynolds says. “People’s personal habits can play a large role in water conservation.”

Drought Grid is a sprinkler-free solution to keeping lawns green.

Running dishwashers and washing machines only when they’re full and turning off water while brushing teeth or washing hands are easy ways to conserve water at home.

Even the actions of the government play a part in water conservation in individual homes. Although the effectiveness of federal conservation legislation is uncertain under the new administration, such legislation is a game-changer when it comes to demand for water-friendly appliances.

“When the government legislates energy-efficiency incentives for manufacturers (the coveted Energy Star badges), and the manufacturer can meet consumer expectations for reduced water consumption and elevated performance, the increase in market share for water-conserving appliances will undoubtedly continue,” Bentley says.

Established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992, the Energy Star program was designed to help businesses and people save money while simultaneously protecting the environment through use of the highest energy-efficiency technology available.

For water conservationists, Energy Star-certified appliances could include anything from a washing machine to a dishwasher to a pool pump, all with a focus on necessary and appropriate use of water.

A Solution Indoors and Outdoors Water conservation doesn’t have to stop inside the home, as is obvious from Rich’s upgraded yard and the variety of Energy Star-certified outdoor conservation tools available. Indeed, there are several new irrigation technologies to help conserve water in yards and gardens as well.

Multiple Energy Star-certified dishwashers are concealed behind gorgeous wood paneling.

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#HOME

Much like Nest transformed the way thermostats can help conserve energy, Rachio uses rainfall data and other weather forecasting information to control whether and for how long sprinklers run so water isn’t wasted. It also allows the homeowner to monitor and adjust sprinkling systems from anywhere via a smartphone app.

“It’s an easy process — you can tell the company about your plants, soil, sun and exposure for each zone of the property,” Reynolds says. “Rachio will calculate watering cycles and proper amount of water and runoff to provide maximum water conservation.”

Root hydration technology is installed.

Or a conservationist could go all out, like Rich did, and install the Drought Grid technology in the yard, garden and any pots.

Created by Montgomery Knox, a certified nurseryman who owns and operates Malibu Coast Nursery and Landscape, the Drought Grid uses a series of “root moisture reservoirs,” which are made of recycled PVC pipes that collect water from irrigation or rain. The grid acts, essentially, as a man-made aquifer, giving plants a consistent source of water.

Extra water flows through open sections of the grid and down into the water table, ensuring that the extra water is useful to the surrounding environment. The grid, combined with drip tubing, means Rich no longer has to use sprinklers at all to water her lawn. It’s all done naturally or through the much more water-efficient underground system.

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Rich says she did have an up-front investment of a couple thousand dollars to have the grid installed in the front yard and to have her backyard changed so it’s primarily potted plants around a cement patio that leads to her pool. But even those plants — including an orange tree — use smaller versions of the grid system to stay hydrated while conserving water.

“Nobody really needs a lawn — it’s a total waste of water,” Rich says. “It’s just that I have one, so now I have one that doesn’t waste water. It holds the water it needs while it lets the water it doesn’t need go through to the earth.”

Read more at MAKEITBETTER.NET/GREEN

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AR TU R ER YE Y NNOOLLDD SS A R CCHHI ITTE EC C T RUER E DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

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#LANDSCAPING

A large urn set into a recirculating water feature offers calming ambient noise.

HOW TO ‘WATERSCAPE’ WISELY B Y H E AT H E R B L A C K M O R E

As the days lengthen and the sun grows warmer, thoughts turn to outdoor living.

Winter’s gray haze will slowly submit to spring’s determined spirit, giving way to lush verdant lawns and borders teaming with color and creatures. Maybe this will be the year you add another element to your landscape. A water feature perhaps?

According to Tony Wasemann, senior landscape designer for Scott Byron and Company, water management is critical.

Close proximity to Lake Michigan can make it easy to forget the importance of conservation first. Before a water feature can be installed, knowing how water flows around a property is the first step in remedying drainage issues so that other features can be included without burdening storm drains and municipal retention ponds. Residential building and heavy clay soil also impede water’s movement into our natural aquifers.

Creating areas within the landscape that allow water to

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percolate back into the soil is the best way to help replenish the water supply.

“It’s best to manage water on site and prevent it from leaving the property,” says Wasemann. “Features like rain gardens, retention ponds and dry creek beds really speak to the conservation issue.”

Michael Schmechtig, president of Schmechtig Landscape, agrees.

“Drainage is the first thing we look at and might require redirecting downspouts or manipulating the elevation so water flows away from the home,” says Schmechtig. “Once we do that, we get to the fun part.”

It’s All About the View … and Time The fun part always includes a two-for-one approach so the feature can be enjoyed from both inside and outside the home. Fountains and ponds are best admired from

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCCO FIORE AND SONS

Get to Know Your Landscape Water features can run the gamut from decorative features such as pools, ponds and waterfalls to the more utilitarian like timed sprinkler systems and rain water collection. We spoke with several area professionals and all agree that the single most important thing a homeowner can do when considering a water feature is to first learn the lay of their land, or find someone who can help you understand it.

#LANDSCAPING

TOP PHOTO BY TONY SOLURI FOR SCOTT BYRON AND COMPANY; BOTTOM PHOTO BY HEATHER BLACKMORE

A lushly planted dry creek bed is both functional and decorative. Set into a home landscape, it allows water to percolate back into the soil while also directing it into an on-site holding area such as a rain garden or swale.

several vantage points and a designer will likely want to inspect your landscape from the inside before settling on the right location for the feature.

Things like scale and aesthetic will also play into the decision so that it fits with the overall design of your home and landscape.

Maintenance requirements are another big consideration, says Schmechtig. How much work do you want to do? Both ponds and fountains can block unwanted noise, although the first is more labor intensive than the latter. If a waterfall is a must-have, Schmechtig suggests a pondless recirculating waterfall system that sits above a reservoir buried underground.

Water Wisely Have you ever noticed a business’ or homeowner’s sprinkler system sprinkling in the middle of a downpour? Erin Canterbury, landscape designer for Rocco Fiore and Sons, says many of the company’s clients invest in an irrigation system that always comes equipped with a rain sensor to prevent unnecessary watering. The system is laid out in zones based on the plant material occupying each area.

Sprinkler heads set in a grassy area will be calibrated differently than those in a flower bed.

Planters can be added to the irrigation grid and set to their own timers.

Water control technology can also be applied to ponds and recirculating features to prevent them from overflowing from rainfall.

“It’s the best way to ensure plant material is properly cared for,” says Canterbury. “Zoning it helps to divide and conquer properly without wasting water.”

Adding a water feature to the landscape offers opportunities to create interest and manage water on-site without overwhelming municipal water systems.

Read more at MAKEITBETTER.NET/GREEN M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7

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#DRINK

ICE ICE BABY

BY JULIE CHERNOFF

With so many great bars in Chicago pouring incredible cocktails, the competition is stiff to rise above the rest. Not content with just focusing on the liquid ingredients, mixologists at these innovative bars are taking ice to the next level to create truly transcendent drinks.

Chicago would never be mistaken for a dry town.

We’ve got a plethora of great cocktail bars here, with awardwinning mixologists combining fanciful artisanal ingredients — sweet as well as savory — to great effect. But let’s discuss what really sets a bar apart in 2017: a bespoke ice program.

on the restaurant’s part. No run-of-the-mill ice will do! We’re talking $5,500 Clinebell ice makers that produce 300-pound blocks of pristine, impeccably clear ice, or contracting with a company that will produce it for you. Whether that ice is then hand-chipped, oversized, infused or studded with fruit and spices, it makes the drink like clothes make the man.

Serious cocktails call for serious ice — and a major investment

These top Chicago mixologists know what’s what:

Maple & Ash/Eight Bar mapleandash.com

“While most cocktalians, mixologists and craft bartenders are gaga about cube ice — whether it is Kold-Draft, Hoshizaki or from a silicon Tovolo mold — I go in the complete opposite direction. For my tastes, nothing is more festive than a cocktail poured over pebble ice aka nugget ice aka chewable ice aka the stuff they have at Sonic Drive-In (they even sell it by the 10-pound bag!). So I always make sure that every cocktail menu at my restaurants includes a delicious pebble ice cocktail.”

Cocktail: B-A-N-A-N-A ($13) Made with Bacardi 8, fresh lime juice, Giffard banana liqueur and house-made pasilla chilelime syrup, shaken and strained over pebble ice in a Collins glass, and garnished with Luxardo cherries.

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TOP PHOTO BY ERICA BARRACA; BOTTOM PHOTO BY ADAM SOKOLOWSKI

Belinda Chang

#DRINK

Michael Fawthrop Beverage Director, Baptiste and Bottle baptisteandbottle.com

“We try to pick the perfect shape ice for the perfect drink. We want to make sure every bit of the beverage is cold, and with [big ice] you can control the dilution so much better. It adds a great texture to the drink. For the Medicine Ball, we start with The Botanist gin and our blood orange-tonic syrup, which we make in house. It’s a fun process!

We juice blood oranges, and then add cinchona bark and sugar to make a syrup. We add our lemon verbena iced tea and seasonal herbs — mint, thyme — to the mix and carbonate the drink to order.

We source the cube from JustIce in Chicago.”

Cocktail: Medicine Ball ($18) Made with The Botanist gin, house-made blood orange-tonic syrup, and iced tea, carbonated and served over a 4.5-inch ice cube in a vintage high-ball glass.

Benjamin Schiller

TOP PHOTO BY VICTORIA KENT; BOTTOM PHOTOS BY ETHAN TALLY

Beverage Director, The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group thefifty50group.com “Ice does a number of things. It will keep your cocktail cold, first and foremost. But then it will also change the viscosity of the cocktail depending on what type of ice you use. We treat ice as essentially another ingredient in a cocktail by adding flavor, aroma, or having it purposely change the flavor of the cocktail through dilution. If I had to pick [a favorite type of ice], it would be large, oversized pieces of handcarved ice from big blocks. We take an ice pick to a crystal-clear block of ice and go at it. It has more personality and melts slower than your standard ice that you’d get from a machine. It’s universal and you can pretty much have any cocktail over it, plus it looks beautiful.”

Cocktail: Silly Rabbit ($12) Ford’s gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and club soda is poured into a Collins glass over flavored ice cubes — Grapey Purple, Orangey Orange, Lemony Lemon and Raspberry Red — inspired by Trix cereal.

The drink changes color as the ice melts.

Cocktail: Tax Evasion ($12) Eldorado rum, Wild Turkey rye whiskey, Bigallet China-China Amer liqueur, ruby port, and house-made “Wesley Snipes” bitters, stirred and served over an extra-large ice cube imprinted with The Sixth’s logo (done with a custom magnesium brand heated up under hot water).

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#DINING

Fish Bar 2956 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago fishbarchicago.com

FISH TALES 13 GREAT CHICAGO SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS

BY JULIE CHERNOFF

ANGRY CRAB This is down-and-dirty Cajun-style seafood, where you order by the piece or the pound and eat with your hands until you’ve had your fill. Choose your spice and your sauce, grab a pair of shellfish crackers for your crab, lobster or shrimp, and go to town. 5665 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, 773-784-6848, theangrycrabchicago.com

FISH BAR Brought to you by the good people of DMK Restaurants, they serve only “sustainable, wild-caught or responsibly farmraised fish and seafood.” So you can feel good about downing the irresistible Crabby Patty Sandwich, Fluke Crudo or the Blackened Red Fish Tacos. 2956 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago, 733-687-8177, fishbarchicago.com

BROWN BAG SEAFOOD You know a place is hot when they’ve been granted an outpost in the Revival Food Hall. It’s fast casual service, so choose a protein (teriyaki salmon, blackened shrimp, curry fish cakes) and a format (sandwich, salad, tacos, powerbox), add a side and you’re good to go — literally. 340 E. Randolph, Chicago, 312-496-3999, brownbagseafood.com

GT FISH & OYSTER Chef Giuseppe Tentori and seafood are a match made in heaven. You’d be hard-pressed to find a clunker on this menu, which is filled with shareable must-orders like the Ono Ceviche with coconut and roasted brown rice, crispy beer-battered fish and chips, or the perfect Maine Lobster Roll. 531 N. Wells St., Chicago, 312-929-3501, gtoyster.com

CALUMET FISHERIES It doesn’t get more bare bones — nor as downright delicious — as this hole in the wall on the far South Side. All fish is brined/ marinated/smoked on site, and they’ve been in business since 1948. These folks know their fish. Take-out only, no seating on site, no bathrooms. The fried shrimp is the stuff of legend. 3259 E. 95th St., Chicago, 773-933-9855, calumetfisheries.com

JOE’S STONE CRAB This northern outpost of the original Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami is a partnership with Lettuce Entertain You, and the stone crab is every bit as delicious as I remember. But this location has it all: fresh and fried oysters; tuna tartare and tuna prepared filet mignon style; scallop ceviche and seared scallops with bacon jam; even — heresy — hamburgers and prime steaks. 60 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, 312-379-5367, joes.net/chicago

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PHOTO BY LINDSEY BECKER

Everyone knows that Chicago — smack-dab in the heart of the Midwest and between coasts — is a hard-core steak town. But man does not live by red meat alone, especially if he wants to live for a while. So look to the water, be it lake, river or sea, for your next hit of protein. Here are some of our favorite local restaurants that specialize in impeccably fresh fish and shellfish.

#DINING BET TER YOU | finance

Brown Bag Seafood

Nico Osteria

PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) COURTESY OF BROWN BAG SEAFOOD; DEREK RICHMOND; ANJALI PINTO; ERIC KLEINBERG

GT Fish & Oyster

LUKE’S LOBSTER The name makes it clear: You’re coming here for the lobster — more specifically, the Lobster Roll, served as God intended on a split-top, buttered and toasted roll, with just a hint of mayonnaise and a bit of lemon butter. 134 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, 312-982-2977, lukelobster.com/chicago OCEAN CUT The folks at Chicago Cut believe in great fresh fish and seafood, too. Whether you opt for the innovative (Ocean Charcuterie) or the tried and true (Shellfish Tower, Dover Sole), chef Dirk Flanigan (The Gage) prepares it all with style. 20 W. Kinzie St., Chicago, 312-280-8882, oceancutchicago.com NICO OSTERIA Another stunner from Paul Kahan and Donnie Madia’s One Off Hospitality, Nico specializes in Italian seafood preparations, most notably the crudo bar, perhaps the city’s most extensive.

On the “hot” side of the menu, the Salt-Crusted Branzino, Italian Fish Fry and Squid Ink Chitarra are standouts.

1015 N. Rush St., Chicago, 312-994-7100, nicoosteria.com OCEANIQUE Chef Mark Grosz is a remarkable talent, reflected in his beautiful plate presentations and his ability to get to the essence of each ingredient. This place takes seafood to a higher level, with exquisite service and a dedication to delivering a true dining experience. 505 Main St., Evanston, 847-864-3435, oceanique.com

Shaw’s Crab House

PEARL TAVERN This little gem opened in 2014, and it’s a winner. Each fish house standard is given a welcome twist, like the Pink Peppercorn-Crusted Ahi Tuna with green papaya, Asian pear and blood orange vinaigrette, the Lobster Roll with Charred Corn Relish or the Smoked Trout Caesar. And the oysters … oh, the oysters! Impeccably fresh and ever-changing. 180 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, 312-629-1030, pearltavern.com RIVA You’d be hard-pressed to find a better view in the city than this airy dining room overlooking the lake. This is “dinner and a show,” whether or not you head afterward to nearby Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The menu is extensive, especially when you figure in the “fresh sheet” of daily specials. 700 E. Grand Ave., 312-644-7482, rivanavypier.com SHAW’S CRAB HOUSE This Lettuce Entertain You stalwart still draws them in with great cocktails and well-prepared seafood that runs the gamut from sushi rolls and glistening tableaus of fresh clams and oysters to fried shrimp and pan-seared scallops. 21 E. Hubbard St., Chicago, 312-527-2722, shawscrabhouse.com M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Come on in and check out the best seafood restaurant on the waterfront

GO YOUR OWN WAY

BY B ROAD S T R EE T

It’s said that youth is wasted on the young, but fortunately travel need not end with the passing of years. If you still have the passion for travel but lack the physical prowess to handle it by yourself, you may want to hire a travel companion.

A companion adds an extra layer of support, manages the logistics and absorbs the hassles of traveling, allowing you to focus on the quality of the experience and enjoy the journey — whether you’re with your family, at a wedding or graduation, with friends or on your own.

“Aging well is about engaging support,” says Sam Cross of Broad Street, a boutique North Shore home care agency that also helps coordinate senior travel and travel companions.

“Physical limitations don’t require you to retreat from your lifestyle. That’s really what travel companions represent. Like personal assistants, they fill in the gaps and enable independence so you can live and travel well. Furthermore, if you have a condition that requires more attention, a travel companion with skilled nursing* qualifications can be arranged.”

Imagine going through the airport with everything taken care of, from luggage to tickets. At your destination, your reservation for dinner is all set and your ride to the restaurant has been scheduled. Did you decide to change plans and take a day trip to Versailles instead of having lunch at the Eiffel Tower? No problem.

Companions remove the intimidation of travel by putting all the details together. People put off travel because they think it’s not worth the hassle. It doesn’t have to be that way.

“It’s part of a larger philosophy not to drive the client’s decisions but rather to provide comprehensive support to allow people to live the life that they choose,” Cross says.

Book your next private event at Riva Contact Andrea Frankos for more info Afrankos@stefanigroup.com 700 E Grand Ave.| rivanavypier.com | 312.644.7482

CONVITO CAFÉ & MARKET french & italian countryside fare

the cafe

Private parties Full bar Kids menu Open for lunch, dinner & Sunday brunch

the market

Prepared foods Bakery · Wines Cheeses & Meats Gourmet groceries Catering · Gift baskets

IDES OF MARCH SALE & DEALS! Wednesday, March 15 through Sunday, March 19 15% OFF everything in the Market • Meat Deals in the Cafe

HOUSEMADE, FRESH PASTA FRIDAYS IN THE CAFE with delectable pasta rolled that evening with fine sauces & ingredients

With the proper assistance, the question is not how to travel, but where do you want to go and what do you want to do?

For more information, call 847-728-0134. www.BroadStreetHomeCare.com. * Travel companion could be any skill level including CNA or RN

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Serving the North Shore for over 35 years 1515 Sheridan Rd, Wilmette • 847.251.3654 • convitocafeandmarket.com

CELEBRATING ONE YEAR OF AUTHENTIC CHINESE CUISINE IN CHICAGO! RECEIVE COMPLIMENTARY XIAO LONG BAO BY MENTIONING THIS AD. VALID THROUGH APRIL 30. RESTRICTIONS APPLY.

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CHICAGO | RIVER NORTH

6 W HUBBARD ST

312 595 9440

# F A M I LY

HOW SAFE IS YOUR FAMILY’S WATER? B Y S A R A H K U TA

In the wake of the Flint, Michigan, crisis, parents across the country are thinking twice about the quality of the water that comes out of their faucets. Here’s how you can ensure yours is safe.

You use it dozens of times a day — for showers, to make coffee or oatmeal, to rehydrate after a run.

But how can you be sure your tap water is safe?

It’s a fair question in the aftermath of the Flint, Michigan, water crisis and recent test results showing lead in the water of dozens of Illinois communities and many Chicago-area schools.

“The Flint crisis put the issue of lead in drinking water on people’s radar screens in a way that it hasn’t been for a long, long time,” says John Rumpler, senior attorney and clean water program director for Environment America, a nonprofit focused on conservation issues.

Though other contaminants can seep into your drinking water, lead is one of the most dangerous and the most likely to end up in your water as it runs through municipal water lines.

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Exposure to lead can cause irreversible cognitive and behavior issues in young children, such as impaired academic performance, hyperactivity and aggression, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In June, the group of 64,000 U.S. pediatricians recommended stricter policies to ensure that children are not exposed to lead in school drinking fountains and daycare facilities.

When it leaves a municipal treatment facility, drinking water is typically free of lead and other contaminants. But, as it travels through the water delivery system, into your home and out your faucet, it can come into contact with lead pipes, lead solder and other lead fixtures.

“On the whole and on the average, water utilities do a pretty good job making sure that the water that leaves their water purification plant is safe,” Rumpler says. “The problem is that we’ve made a delivery system that’s made with lead.”

# F A M I LY

So, how can you be sure the water you use for cooking and drinking is safe? Here are some steps you can take to protect your family.

Many water service lines — the pipes that carry water into your home from the street main — installed before the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act are made of lead. Citizens and businesses in some cities, such as Madison, Wisconsin, are making a coordinated effort to remove all lead pipes, but they remain in use in many communities.

Though municipal water departments often add phosphate during the treatment process, which helps coat the pipes and prevent lead from leaching into the water, it’s not always foolproof.

“When there’s work on the pipes — they’re being dug up or they’re being jostled, then the lead can end up loosening,” says Anita Weinberg, director of the Civitas ChildLaw Center Policy Institute at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. You likely won’t be able to tell that there’s lead in your water, unlike some other harmful contaminants that have a noticeable odor or taste. That makes this silent toxin even more scary.

“I wish it were as easy as look at it and you can tell by the color or you can tell by the smell or the feel, but unfortunately it’s not that easy,” says Pauli Undesser, executive director of the Water Quality Association, an international trade group representing the water quality improvement industry.

The only true way to detect lead in your tap water is to have it tested by a certified laboratory. There are 75 laboratories in Illinois and other states approved to test for lead and other chemicals by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, according to the agency’s website.

You may also want to consider testing the water at your office or your child’s school, since those are places your family spends a lot of time.

Even if your water earns a passing grade, you may still want to take steps to protect your family’s health. Factors such as nearby construction, water temperature and heavy water usage can affect test results.

“There’s no safe level of lead — none,” says Henry Henderson, midwest director for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

“The federal government and state governments do not set a level of zero, so even the existing standards aren’t strict enough.”

1 Consider the age of your home, business or your child’s educational facility. “If you’re living in a home that was built before 1986, there’s a very good chance that the service line that connects from the water main to your home is made of lead, so that’s something to be concerned about,” says Henderson.

2 Send in your water for testing at a certified laboratory. Be sure to get up early to collect water samples, before anyone showers or starts a load of laundry, since heavy water use can flush out lead and skew the results of the test, according to Weinberg.

3 Until you can eliminate the source of the lead or get a filter, run cold water through your shower and other taps for five minutes to fully flush the system, recommends the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Afterward, fill several clean containers with cold water and use it for all drinking or cooking.

4 Drink or cook with cold water only. Water that comes out of the tap hot can contain higher levels of lead — boiling your tap water doesn’t help either, according to the CDC. 5 Get a certified water filtration system. Look for water filter systems that have been approved by a third-party certificate body, such as the Water Quality Association or NSF International, which test water filters and other products. “The most common one you’ll find is one that’s at the point of use, either a faucet-mounted filter or a pitcher,” says Undesser.

There are also products that filter larger volumes of water, such as a reverse osmosis system, Undesser adds.

6 On a grander scale, you can lobby your local government to remove all lead service lines in your community. “If there’s a lead service line, it should be removed,” says Rumpler.

7 Visit your pediatrician regularly and talk with him or her about your concerns, says Dr. Thomas DeStefani, a pediatrician with the Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group. “It’s reasonable to be vigilant about potential lead exposure,” DeStefani says. “All children should be screened at least by a questionnaire from 6 months until kindergarten.”

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# H E A LT H

HEALING WATERS

BY SHANNAN YO U NGER

Aqua therapy is an increasingly popular form of treatment and rehabilitation for patients with a broad range of illnesses and injuries. Here are some of the many benefits to hitting the pool for treatment, recovery or just a great aquatic workout.

We already know that water is an important part of maintaining good health, but the power of water can also be an important part of rehabilitation. Aqua therapy, also known as hydrotherapy and water therapy, can be a powerful and effective tool in the treatment of and rehabilitation from illness and injury. It can also be used to help people prevent further injury and to promote health and wellness. Water therapy can work in a variety of ways and has myriad benefits.

their weight thanks to the buoyancy of the water. The water supports up to three quarters of the body weight when the individual is in water up to their arm pits.

“Water therapy can be a wonderful environment to allow patients to gain strength and power and to enjoy freedom they may not have on land,” explains Amy Kennedy, doctor of physical therapy at the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute.

“Buoyancy, viscosity and hydrostatic pressure help patients improve muscle tone and range of motion,” explains Jennifer Leipzig, licensed physical therapist assistant at Athletico Physical Therapy, who specializes in aquatic therapy services. She says that she can manipulate the viscosity of the water with given resistance tools to achieve optimal rehab potential.

How aqua therapy works One of the reasons that water therapy works so well is because the water provides a great deal of buoyancy.

Kennedy explains that once a patient is standing in water up to their belly button, the individual is supporting only half 6 2 M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7

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“You have buoyancy but you also have drag force, so you can get resistance. Resistance exercise while being supported can aid with bone density and allows your muscles to work easier or harder, whichever is needed,” says Kennedy.

Water therapy also alleviates stress on joints. Maggie Morrissy, exercise physiologist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, explains that the pool provides people with pain or arthritis a safe opportunity to engage in activity. That activity has benefits

# H E A LT H

outside the pool. “As the client progresses with their water classes, they see a noticeable improvement in their day-today lives,” she says.

Another way that the water helps people heal and/or improve is through temperature. The Aquatic Exercise Association recommends that the water temperature for therapy and rehabilitation be between 90 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Our pool is 93 degrees,” says Leipzig. “The water temperature prompts muscle relaxation, facilitates stretching and generally reduces the sensation of pain while increasing blood flow to injured areas.” In addition, the warm water can promote relaxation.

Another way that water therapy promotes relaxation is that patients have less fear than they often do with land-based rehabilitation, assuming they don’t have a fear of water or drowning. Often, they feel safer in the water. “There is no fear of falling. If they do fall, it’s a matter of getting their hair wet versus falling on their face, and that takes away a lot of anxiety,” says Kennedy.

In addition to improving muscle tone and range of motion, water therapy helps improve body awareness, proprioception (one’s sense of body and limb position) and core stability.

Hard Work Can Be Fun In The Water Aqua therapy can also be more fun than land-based rehabilitation.

“You can be as creative as you want in the pool,” says Kennedy.

“The sky’s the limit.”

Morrissy agrees. “Of all the opportunities provided to our clients, I observe their universal enjoyment and pleasure from being in the pool,” she says. “Those with aches and pains ‘on land’ are able to move more freely in the pool and truly enjoy the activity.”

Patients may find therapy in the water both freeing and fun, but that doesn’t mean it’s not hard work. The professionals stress that there is much more to aqua therapy than the stereotypical water aerobics image many people have.

“There are common misconceptions that aqua therapy is only for older adults and that it is easy, both of which are false,” says Morrissy. “Whether you are a young athlete recovering from an acute injury or an older adult with a chronic condition, everyone has a spot in the pool and can benefit from training in water.”

Leipzig concurs. “Nearly every patient says the workout that they completed [in the water] was more challenging than they expected,” she says.

Considerations Before Beginning Aqua Therapy “While there is considerable research effectively documenting the value of water therapy in various setting and for multiple diagnoses, it comes down to both the therapist’s skills and the patient’s diagnosis as to the exact benefit of this intervention for a specific patient,” according to the American Physical Therapy Association.

Water therapy may not be right for everyone. Kennedy cautions that people who are cardiac compromised need to be cleared by their doctor.

Also, there are safety considerations that must be taken into account when someone has been cleared for water therapy.

People often feel great in the water and want to keep going, but Kennedy cautions that it is important to not overdo it.

Also, people need to be very cautious when exiting the pool, as slipping on the wet floor is always a danger.

Patients Who Benefit Most From Aqua Therapy “Lumbar fusions are the number one diagnosis I treat,” says Leipzig. “Aquatic therapy is also effective in treating chronic pain, gait and balance disorders, deconditioning and postoperation recovery and injuries with weight bearing limitations,” she adds.

Kennedy says that rheumatological patients often do very well with water therapy as do children, particularly those with spasticity and cerebral palsy. “If they are wheelchair bound, they have freedom in the water that they don’t have on land,” she says.

While water therapy can be a beneficial and important element of physical therapy, it shouldn’t be the only tool used. “We are not mermaids or fish, so we have to transition to land, too,” explains Kennedy.

Even if you aren’t recovering from anything specific and do not require aqua therapy with a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant, water-based exercise can still be beneficial.

Morrissy says aqua classes are appropriate for many populations, and suggests speaking with your physician about your exercise program and whether pool exercise is an appropriate option.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agrees, calling water-based exercise a “good choice” and noting, “Exercising in water offers many physical and mental health benefits and is a good choice for people who want to be more active.”

Read more at MAKEITBETTER.NET/HEALTH M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7

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COUPLE RECOVERS AFTER DESTRUCTIVE HOME FIRE

BY A MER IC AN R ED CROSS O F CHIC AGO & NORTHERN ILLINOIS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMERICAN RED CROSS

“We hit rock bottom,” says Nick Tedeschi. “And the Red Cross gave us a start.”

Nick and his wife Shirley were going about their daily routine on Feb. 13, 2016, when their condo caught fire. They were left with the clothes on their backs. “You never expect, when you leave for the day, to come back and have lost everything,” says Nick. “I was totally gutted.” Their Valentine’s Day plans were derailed as they took steps to recover from one of the worst days of their lives.

The Red Cross responded to the fire, caused by a next-door neighbor’s cigarette, to help them get back on their feet during the immediate recovery after their loss.

Nick and Shirley lost everything in the home fire. (top) The house that Nick and Shirley purchased after a fire destroyed their previous home. (bottom)

alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and they keep flammable things away from their house.

They moved into Shirley’s daughter’s basement for a few months until they were able to purchase a new home. “We were blessed tremendously,” Nick reflects.

In 2017, Nick plans to volunteer for the Red Cross answering telephones at a Red Cross telethon. “You guys did so much,” he says. “It gave us a starting point.”

Now, he and his wife do things differently. They triple check everything before leaving the house, they put in new smoke

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# WAT E R

Now’s the time to prepare for safe fun in the water this summer.

SWIM SAFE B Y S A R A H K U TA

The scary truth is even an experienced swimmer can drown. Here’s how to make sure your family is ready for a safe summer of fun in the water.

With summer around the corner, soon this scene won’t be a far-off fantasy. Though fun in the sun is supposed to be just that — fun — it’s never too early to start planning for your family’s safety at the pool, the beach or the waterpark.

It’s scary to think about, but even the calmest water can be a source of danger. In 2015, the most recent year for which data is available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 105 unintentional drowning deaths in Illinois. Nationally, that number was 3,602. Those numbers don’t account for non-fatal drownings, either, which can cause permanent injuries.

Water is even more risky for young children. Other than birth defects, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, according to the CDC. These statistics are alarming, but experts say drowning is completely preventable, if you know what steps to take to protect yourself and your family.

First, it’s important to remember that no one is immune to drowning, not even the best swimmers. That’s why it’s 6 6 M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7

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important to have layers of protection in place, according to Alissa Magrum, executive director of Colin’s Hope, a nonprofit that started after the 2008 drowning death of 4-year-old Colin Holst.

“Drowning has no boundaries,” Magrum says. “It’s something that can impact anyone. No one is drown-proof. Sometimes we have a hard time because people think, ‘Oh, this isn’t going to happen to me. This is somebody else’s kid. My kids know how to swim. We’ve been around water all of our lives.’”

Swimming ability is just one aspect of water safety, albeit an important one. It’s never too early — or too late — to take formal swimming lessons, says John Fitzpatrick, head coach of the Chicago Blue Dolphins, which offer lessons for infants, adults and every age in between.

You don’t have to be Michael Phelps to swim to safety during an emergency. Take it slow and start with the basics, such as being able to float comfortably or get to the wall or a ladder.

“There used to be a strategy in gym classes or swim instruction that since we all came from the womb, we’re all natural swimmers so just throw the kid in the deep end and they’ll figure it out,” Fitzpatrick says. “But you never want to ingrain fear into a person’s learning process. You want to start in shallow water

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BIG BLUE SWIM SCHOOL

Picture this: The sun is shining, the kids are splashing around in the pool and you’re relaxing nearby in a patio chair.

# WAT E R

Beyond learning how to swim, here are steps you can take to keep your family safe at the pool or the beach this summer.

Remember that drowning is silent and quick. “Drowning is not like in the movies,” says Ellyn Pollack, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which launched its Pool Safely campaign in 2010. “They’re not splashing and screaming for help.”

Help the Big Blue Swim School provide free swimming lessons to at-risk youth through the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs in Chicago by visiting bigblueswimschool.com/ donate.

There should be several barriers and safety mechanisms in place for at-home pools and spas. Invest in a pool cover with an alarm, a four-sided fence around the pool and a self-closing, self-latching gate, says Pollack. Your fence should be at least 4 feet high and not climbable.

Designate a water guardian, or an adult whose eyes never leave the pool — not even for a second. If the water watcher has to make a phone call or run to the restroom, it’s a good idea to pass off that duty to someone else. “You often see drownings occur at backyard pool parties where there are a lot of adults around — there may even be lifeguards on duty — but everybody thinks someone else is watching or they think they’re going to hear something,” says Magrum.

If you or another adult will be spending a lot of time near water this summer, consider learning CPR. “It’s another tool to have in your toolbox,” Magrum says.

Arm floaties are no substitute for life jackets in open water.

Magrum recommends that both children and adults wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets at all times while boating, stand-up paddleboarding or swimming in open water.

Your child won’t always be with you while swimming or near water. Consider talking with anyone who will be caring for your child, such as a babysitter, a camp director or the parents of your child’s friends, about water safety precautions, Magrum says.

Teach your children to stay away from pool drains, even if they’re properly covered. “Hair can get entrapped, bathing suits can get entrapped,” Magrum says. As an adult, familiarize yourself with pool functions so you know how to shut the drain off during an emergency.

For very young children, an adult should always be in contact with the child in the water. For older children, an adult should always be an arm’s length away, says Fitzpatrick.

Always wear your life jacket on a boat — it will likely make the difference between life and death if you’re involved in a boating accident, says Rachel Johnson, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council.

Never drive a boat while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. “Alcohol use was the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents in 2015,” Johnson says.

Consider enrolling your family, including your kids, in a boating safety course before you head out on the water, Johnson says.

Swimming lessons can reduce risk of drowning in kids 1 to 4 by 88 percent.

Don’t rely solely on lifeguards. Though they’re water safety experts, they’re tasked with watching hundreds of swimmers at a time and their vision may be affected by the glare of the sun, children splashing or pool floaties. “Lifeguards are not babysitters,” says Chris DeJong, founder of the Big Blue Swim School, which has donated 7,300 swimming lessons to at-risk youth through the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs in Chicago.

“A child should never be left alone near water — ever.”

When looking for a swim lesson provider, ask questions to ensure your child will get quality instruction. A 2009 study conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development found that formal swimming lessons reduced the risk of drowning in children ages 1 to 4 by 88 percent. “Ask your swim lesson provider if the teachers there are encouraged to work full-time hours to pursue careers in aquatics instruction,” DeJong says.

Read more at MAKEITBETTER.NET/SWIM

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#FITNESS

NTX rowers: (coxswain) Michelle Rane, (stroke) Reaney Kunkler, (7 seat) Marcia Krause, (6) Carol Brown, (5) Mary South, (4) Penny Lanphier, (3) Kathy Saitelbach, (2) Chris Jett-Rivard, (bow) Donna Brownstone

ROW WITH IT

BY CHRIST Y COUGHLIN

Rowing offers a killer full-body workout and incredible opportunities for engagement with Chicago’s dynamic, dedicated and supportive rowing community. So join a team, hop in a boat and take to the water to reap the incredible benefits the sport has to offer both mind and body.

Looking for a full-body workout that is easy to learn, builds cardiovascular and muscular strength, and has a low risk of injury? Try rowing! Unlike running, rowing is low impact and therefore kind to all ages and body types. Unlike swimming, rowing has one stroke, which you can pick up in just a couple instructional sessions. As the City of Chicago continues to embrace the river, rowing is booming. Two new Chicago Park District boathouses, designed by famed Chicago architect Jeanne Gang, are creating a splash. If you haven’t yet tried this sport, which continues to grow in popularity, now is the time.

“Rowing on the water makes all the land training worth it,” Marchuk says. “There is nothing like the feel of a boat running out from under you in perfect balance and synchronized with others, on flat water, in the sunshine.”

“[Rowing] is a high-calorie-burning sport that works the entire body, with the biggest contribution of power coming from the legs, then core, then arms,” says Rose Marchuk, program director of New Trier High School Rowing, who coaches adult and high school rowers through NTX at New Trier High School and the Dammrich Rowing Center in Skokie.

Ready to hit the water and start rowing with a team?

Here are the basics:

The next step is to begin training with a team. “Not only will you learn proper technique, but the camaraderie will encourage you to work harder than you would on your own,” Marchuk says.

Rowing together in a boat requires teamwork like no other sport.

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1. The drive phase begins with the rower sitting at the catch with shins in a vertical position, with good posture and body angle where the shoulders are slightly in front of the hips.

Arms are straight out in front and on the handle.

2. The handle moves the entire time as the legs begin to push off.

3. The back unfolds.

4. The arms complete the stroke by bending and exerting the last bit of power.

5. The recovery phase begins with the arms leading out, followed by the back. Arms should be just past the knees. The knees bend and the body compresses to take the next catch.

6. The hands follow an oval shape, in a ratio of one beat on the drive, two beats on the recovery.

7. The drive and recovery phases should blend together seamlessly to make a stroke.

NTX PHOTO © 2017 JOSH DREYFUS; CTC PHOTOS BY MARC HAUSER

You may have noticed more ergometers (ergs), or rowing machines, right in line with treadmills, ellipticals and bikes at your health club. “Anyone can start rowing at their own pace on an erg,” Marchuk says. “You can learn 90 percent of the stroke technique in a few sessions.”

Proper rowing form on the erg translates to correctly executing the stroke on the water. The biggest difference on the water is balance. The stroke should be thought of as a continuous motion without a beginning or end. The power unfolds from the biggest muscle groups to the smallest — legs to back to arms.

#FITNESS

Chicago is home to rowing groups that cater to every age, socioeconomic background and skill level. Here are three excellent rowing organizations bringing the sport to the people and changing lives in the process.

ROW ROW, or Recovery on Water, is a women’s rowing club made up exclusively of breast cancer survivors. ROW provides members the opportunity to connect with others, take an active role in their recovery, gain support and learn a new sport. ROW’s members are diverse in age and ability — with some having never played a sport. ROW is an empowering, confidence-building group that offers a unique opportunity at a difficult time.

“I love the team and I love the training. It has made a profound impact on my life. Thanks to ROW, I incorporated a new sport and athletic goals into my life, just as I aged into being a senior citizen,” says Catherine Rocca, one of ROW’s first members.

CTC rowers

ROW Co-Founder and Executive Director Jenn Junk previously worked with survivors while rowing in college at Michigan State University before founding ROW in 2008 along with survivor Sue Ann Glaser. The organization now has 85 members.

the river can have a profound impact on the citizens of Chicago.

“We are moving into the new Eleanor Boathouse, which will allow for more growth as we expand in ways that we never imagined possible,” says Executive Director Ashley Mayer.

Mayer, new to CTC in 2017, explains how the rowers become like a family and are a part of a very supportive community.

“We don’t sit around and talk about cancer. We focus on rowing,” Junk says. “The low-impact nature of rowing, and the fact that it uses 85% of the muscle groups, makes it a great way for members to be more active in their treatment.” She also points out that studies have shown a 30-50 percent decrease in cancer recurrence with exercise and good nutrition.

CTC boasts a 100 percent high school graduation rate for participants and an average GPA of 3.2. “Because CTC introduced me to the sport of rowing, at age 13, I was able to find not only a passion for the sport, but also career opportunities,” says Daniel Izguerra, who has worked for VanDusen Racing Boats and currently works with Finish Line Shell Repair.

Dr. Samman Shahpar of Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) further emphasizes the important role of exercise for breast cancer survivors. “Exercise is an integral component in the evaluation and management of breast cancer survivors,” he says. “There have been multiple studies that demonstrate that not only is exercise safe, but it is beneficial to the medical and functional recovery. Survivors often don’t know where to go or where to start. An organization like ROW creates an environment where survivors can engage in safe exercise and enjoy the camaraderie that comes along with this activity.” For those no longer in treatment, ROW becomes their new “team,” which was previously comprised of doctors and nurses.

Other CTC rowers become first-generation college students, some on rowing scholarships. A grant from the Pocock Foundation is allowing “Erg Ed” to be taught in Chicago Public Schools middle schools, opening up a whole new world for young Chicagoans and ensuring a steady stream of ambitious youth to CTC’s program, which boasts volunteer coaches who are all former collegiate rowers.

ROW trains year round, seven days a week at three locations: the new Chicago Park District Eleanor Boathouse in Bridgeport, Bluprint Fitness in Chicago, and Alliance Rowing Club in Wilmette. During the outdoor season they are on the water five days a week. ROW races both eight- and four-person boats in several regattas each season and is always looking for coxswain volunteers.

Chicago Training Center The Chicago Training Center (CTC) has introduced the sport of rowing to traditionally underserved kids from Chicago’s south and west sides. Founded by Montana Butsch in 2007, CTC not only teaches kids to row, but encourages academic success, fosters teamwork, builds self esteem, provides health education, develops leaders and helps participants set goals for their future. While rowing has been a sport predominantly enjoyed by the wealthy, groups like CTC are introducing a broader range of kids to the water. US Rowing, the sport’s governing body, has prioritized expanding rowing to all, and has used CTC as a model for how to make it happen. CTC exemplifies how improving access to

Chicago Rowing Foundation The Chicago Rowing Foundation (CRF) was founded in 1998 with a grant from the U.S. Olympic Committee and is Chicago’s premier rowing organization. In coordination with the Chicago Park District, CRF has created rowing opportunities for youth in Chicago from all walks of life. CRF offers programs at varying skill levels for middle and high school athletes and adults. CRF programs are focused on the whole person — physical, mental and social. “One-third of our junior athletes are on scholarship at CRF,” says Head Coach Mike Wallin. Wallin explains that CRF boats are comprised of kids from different socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds, making it a unique experience for all rowers. Many of these high schoolers go on to row in college on athletic scholarships. Housed at the beautiful new WMS Boathouse in Clark Park, CRF continues to grow and expand.

With 50 indoor ergs, state-of-the-art tanks and plenty of storage space for boats, rowers of all ages, abilities and income levels are finding their place. CRF boasts a broad array of programs, from learn to row to highly competitive programs. Adult rowers can choose the recreational team or challenge themselves on the competitive team.

For more resources, information, classes and recommended equipment, visit MAKEITBETTER.NET/ROW M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7

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# T R AV E L

Disney Cruise

ANCHORS AWEIGH

BY KENDR A THORNTON

There’s nothing quite like looking out your “hotel” room window and seeing open sea for miles. Whether you’re a cruise regular or considering a first-time voyage, there are a number of decisions you need to make to ensure you choose the perfect cruise.

Now that you know you want to take a cruise, how do you find the one that’s best for you and your family? There are a lot of great options for cruising out there but each one has a distinct personality and appeals to different interests. The first step should be to contact a Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) certified travel professional to help you carefully consider all your options. You can go to www.cruising.org to find a list of qualified professionals in your area or ask your local travel agency if they are CLIA certified.

By booking your cruise through a CLIA-certified travel professional, you’ll ensure access to the best prices and 7 2 M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7

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incentives. These incentives can come in all sorts of forms, from an upgraded cabin to additional on-board credit to use at the spa and for specialty dining when on the cruise. There is a huge misperception that booking directly with the cruise line provides the best pricing and service. In fact, cruise lines partner with travel consultants to promote their brands and therefore ensure that travel consultants have access to the same special amenities and pricing.

Choose the Right Line Selecting the right cruise line and ship makes a world of difference. That decision will determine if you fall madly in love with this type of travel or run screaming from the gangway. Each cruise line has its own style and price point and each ship has its own vibe that often depends on the ship’s age and amenities, crew, guest contingent and the ports the ship visits. If you stay at full-service hotels like Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton on land, then booking an inside cabin on a budget line like Carnival or Norwegian Cruise Line might be a mistake. Likewise, if you’re traveling with small

PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEY CRUISE LINE

Do you love the idea of vacation where you’re always on the move but can relax the whole time? How about visiting numerous destinations you’ve always wanted to see but only unpacking once? Maybe you’re looking to travel with multiple generations of your family and need a trip that has something for everyone. If this sounds like the vacation for you and your family, then pack your bags and hit the high seas — it’s time for a cruise.

# T R AV E L

children, be sure to select a company like Disney Cruise Line that caters to families and offers special programs for kids.

Here’s a brief overview of the most popular cruise lines that work best for a variety of sailing interests:

TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF REGENT SEVEN SEAS; BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY OF UN-CRUISE ADVENTURES

• Best Cruises for Romance: Windstar Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Princess Cruises • Best Cruises for Seniors: Holland America Line, Cunard Line • Best Cruises for Families with Small Children: Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Carnival • Best Cruises for Families with Older Children: Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line • Best Cruises for Fitness Enthusiasts: Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line • Best Cruises for Budget-Conscious Cruisers: Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line • Best Cruises for a Splurge: Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn • Best Cruises for Foodies: Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Crystal Cruises • Best Cruises for Solo Travelers: Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Crystal Cruises • Best Cruises for Entertainment: Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line

Regent Seven Seas

Where to Go Deciding on an itinerary goes hand in hand with picking the cruise line and ship. If, for example, your heart is set on an exotic voyage around Indonesia, then you’ve got to pick a ship that offers that particular itinerary. Draw up a list of where you want to go and then cross-reference it with your short list of preferred cruise lines. That will reveal the best options.

Spend some time reviewing the itineraries listed at each cruise line’s website.

Don’t pick an itinerary just because it’s cheap. Select a voyage because the ports (or the number of sea days) intrigue you. If you’re an outdoorsy type, small-ship cruising with Un-Cruise Adventures in Alaska or SeaDream Yacht Club in the Caribbean might be your style. If you’re interested in the arts, maybe a Mediterranean cruise calling on the major cities of Europe is your best bet. If you hate the cold weather, Antarctica might not be your idea of fun. Think about your vacation style on land and then pick a voyage that has a similar profile.

Picking a Cabin Some people think that every cabin on a cruise ship is the same. That is simply not the case. You can choose from a variety of options from inside cabins with no windows to ocean-view rooms that are outfitted with a window or a balcony. Various cabin categories also come with different amenities. For example, Regent Seven Seas and other cruise lines offer butler service to suite passengers. Some cruise lines, like Celebrity, also offer special “spa” cabins that include certain treatments already included in the per passenger price. Think about what’s important to you and select a cabin accordingly.

If you’re new to cruising or are sailing in what are traditionally rough waters, you may wish to book a cabin on a low deck, midship. This is where you’ll feel the least amount of movement, which can help if you’re prone to seasickness.

Un-Cruise Aventures

Considerations Abroad Whenever you book an overseas vacation, it’s important to research any passport or visa requirements. The U.S. Department of State offers detailed information regarding requirements of countries throughout the world. Be sure you carry the right credentials. Otherwise, the cruise line will have no choice but to deny you boarding or keep you on the ship if you don’t have the necessary visa to visit a certain area. In many areas of the world, the cruise line provides a “blanket” visa for everyone on board so you don’t have to worry about it. Carefully read your cruise documentation to see if that’s the case during your vacation.

For more information, contact Royal Travel & Tours at WWW.ROYAL-TRAVEL.COM and read more at MAKEITBETTER.NET/TRAVEL M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7

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This procedure can gently melt and remove excess fat in smallto medium-sized areas. The deep heating will also lead to contraction of the skin to re-contour the treated area. These areas may include the neck, the lower face, upper arms or inner thighs. SkinTite is better than liposuction by itself when it comes to treating areas where the skin is too lax or it has lost much of its elastic properties, as the heat generated by the radio frequency will do a better job of more uniformly tightening the skin.

This new treatment can be a good solution where there is sagging skin that requires tightening and contouring, but may not be quite necessary for a traditional lifting surgical procedure, such as a facelift or brachioplasty (arm lift). When a facelift is indicated, no other procedure will be able to re-contour and lift the neck, jawline and face better. However, when someone has early signs of soft tissue and skin sag, that person can benefit from SkinTite (RFAL). This shorter procedure can be performed under light sedation or local anesthesia, and has almost no post-procedural swelling and bruising, which leads to much less down time and less risk. There are virtually no incisional scars and after the procedure, you can go home and resume normal activity shortly.

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#BEAUTY

Kohler Waters Spa

JUST ADD WATER

6 SPAS MAKING A SPLASH WITH WATER TREATMENTS

BY AMBER GIBSON

THE SPA AT SANDPEARL This Clearwater Beach spa is the only Silver LEED-certified resort in Florida, proving that water and energy conservation can go hand and hand with five-star luxury. Cascading waterfalls massage and loosen your tight muscles in the geothermal heated spa Jacuzzi before you rinse off in the contrasting 32-degree refrigerated shower. Organic and eco-certified skincare from Comfort Zone’s Sacred Nature line leaves your skin soft and supple without silicones in a head-to-toe skincare ritual, or opt for the glamour of pearls, the ocean’s most treasured gem, to give your skin an iridescent glow.

Every December, the spa hosts a “Spa for a Cause” charity event and this year they raised $4,000 for a local domestic violence center. The spa boutique carries Ellis Faas makeup, which donates €1 from online purchases to War Child, and Denver-made Zents, which donates to Project C.U.R.E., so you can try out these socially responsible lines.

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LAKE AUSTIN SPA RESORT You’ll wear a bathing suit to the two new hydrotherapy treatments in Lake Austin’s Pool Barn, where warm waters beckon yearround. Drifting through a guided Floating Meditation is an easy and gentle option for deep relaxation. For chronic pain and limited range of motion, consider assisted stretching in shallow waters with AquaStretch Myofascial. It’s similar to an underwater Thai massage, or a more active alternative to Watsu, restoring mobility and flexibility while easing joint and muscle pain. Several other treatments incorporate herbs from the resort’s organic garden and there are even custom lavender bath and body products in your room, utilizing the rich surrounding environment in a sustainable fashion.

QUA BATHS & SPA Revel in the ancient healing powers of water at the Roman Baths within Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, where water figures

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EACH SPA/RESORT

For a perfectly balanced, relaxing yet rejuvenating spa experience, dip your toes into the calming and restorative effects of hydrotherapy, rain shower treatments and aqua thermal bathing at top spas across the globe. Here are six of our favorites.

#BEAUTY

Qua Baths & Spa

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Bali

into every aspect of the 50,000-square-foot spa. Guests can enjoy a tea pairing with their treatment in the semi-circular stone Laconium Room before exploring the Arctic Ice Room and the Roman Baths, with three pools varying in temperature and size. Start in the warm mineral-enriched waters of the Tepidarium, then alternate between hot tub (Caldarium) and plunge pool (Frigidarium). Running water from the decorative waterfall and circular rain shower may lull you right to sleep after a Vichy shower body treatment. Get snowed on in the ice room before you leave to close your pores and seal in the hydrating and nourishing products from Natura Bissé, Red Flower and Farm House Fresh.

THE RITZ-CARLTON SPA, BALI Amidst a lush Balinese garden, this natural and spiritual oasis offers rejuvenating treatments inspired by traditional Sanskrit stories from the ancient Balinese culture. Spa villas each have a private bathing pool, inspired by royal bathing rituals, and outdoor showers overlooking limestone cliffs.

The Hydro-Vital pool is divided into five sections, focusing on back, neck, foot and leg muscle stress release, along with a whirlpool, cold plunge pool, sauna and steam room. Many treatments feature natural ingredients sourced from the sea and the Indian Ocean Ritual best embodies the eco-friendly philosophy of using the abundant natural environment to heal the body. After a relaxing lomi-lomi massage and a scrub using sand from the beach, you’ll cover your body in warm sands to ease muscle tension before the therapist rinses you off in the waves of the Indian Ocean while you absorb the rhythm of the waves.

KOHLER WATERS SPA Body treatments at this massive 25,000-square-foot, bi-level spa often showcase the signature Kohler Custom Vichy shower, whether in conjunction with Scottish seaweed, lavender and eucalyptus in the signature Lavender Rain treatment, or paired with a traditional Shirodhara hair treatment and chakra stone application. Before or after your treatment, bathe in the relaxation pool, with its mosaic tile bottom and 8-foot waterfall.

In 2016, Kohler was awarded a WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award by the Environmental Protection Agency for promoting water efficiency. One example of this is the underground piping system utilized to heat the water at the spa, which saves more than 5,000 gallons of water a week.

The Spa at SandPearl

SAGESTONE SPA & SALON Beside the vibrant red rock cliffs and canyons in Southern Utah, you might not expect water to figure prominently in the treatments at this desert spa. However, Vichy showers are a fixture in many luxurious hydrating body treatments and eco-friendly marine ingredients in Phytomer’s skincare line brighten and smooth skin in various facials. All retreat packages include water workouts ranging from private swim lessons to cardio conditioning and aqua strength training with webbed gloves. Shop for good at the spa boutique, which offers fair trade handbags, jewelry, organic clothing and soy candles made by women from the Philippines, Nepal, India and Guatemala. For dog lovers looking to give back, Red Mountain Resort offers a pound puppy hike, where you can hike the bluffs with a dog from a local shelter. Dozens of guests have even adopted puppies from the program.

For more information, visit MAKEITBETTER.NET/BEAUTY M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7

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New at Vibrato

Vibrato Boutique Plaza del Lago 847-853-1434 www.VibratoBoutique.com

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of 2016 AUTHENTIC NEAPOLITAN PIZZA Our Neapolitan Style dough is made daily. Pizzas are cooked in our Steffano Ferraro wood burning oven from Italy.

NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH! Come try our Panini sandwiches made to order with our own home- made bread.

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Join us for our creative omlettes & breakfast pizzas with $5 Bloody Marys & Aperol Spritzes. $20 Bottomless Mimosas.

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#FA SHION

DEEP-SEA FASHION The Fellows family explores the wonders of the Wild Reef in form-meets-function spring fashions. Playful colors, plaids and prints in soft fabrics and comfy-yet-chic sneakers are perfect for a day of discovery.

BY B ROO K E MCDO NALD | PH OTOG R APHY BY TO DD ROSEN B ERG ST Y LIN G BY TR AC Y CLI FFO R D | SH OT O N LOC ATIO N AT SH EDD AQ UAR I UM HAI R BY B R EN DA BO N OMO O F PA SC AL P O U R ELLE SALO N M AK EU P BY C ARO L M AR I E E VER E T T O F TEDDI E KOSSO F SALO N

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#FA SHION

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#FA SHION

SHEDD AFTER DARK

What could be better for an evening marveling at the marine life of the Caribbean Reef than a stunning one-shoulder dress in scuba-esque fabric?

Valencia channels the tropics with a pop of color and palm-tree inspired platforms while her husband Jon keeps it classic in a timeless tux.

Jon and Valencia Fellows live in Chicago with their children, McKenna, 12, and Jaden, 10, who attend the Latin School of Chicago. Jon, who is from Downers Grove, is a principal at DiMeo Schneider & Associates L.L.C., a Chicago-based investment management consulting firm. Valencia, who was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, spent more than seven years in client services and financial management at Sanford C. Bernstein, and 12 years in marketing and event planning for J.P.Morgan. Passionate about the arts, she is currently pursuing her photography certification.

Valencia has been a leader on the committee for Shedd’s annual gala, the aquarium’s largest fundraising event, for five years running. “Our family loves Shedd for its global research and reach, its unmatched compassion for animals and its love of the Chicago community,” she says.

“The excellence with which it integrates these priorities is innovative, kind and fun. Shedd makes animals, kids and adults happy and better!”

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#FA SHION

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Fashion Credits Additional styling by Erica Barraca p. 82 — Wild Reef McKenna Burberry Girls' Tais Floral Check Dress, $285, J Brand Harlow Trucker Denim Jacket, $238, kate spade new york Linds Too Glitter Platform Espadrilles, $150, Bloomingdale's, 900 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, bloomingdales.com Jon Performance Quarter Zip Sweater in Deep Cobalt, $135, Slim Fit Tucker Shirt, South Sound Gingham in Ocean Breeze, $98.50, Anchor & Whale Tie in Conch, $85, Breaker Pant in Barracuda, $98.50, Leather Anchor Belt in Dark Brown, $98.50, Vineyard Vines, 905 Old Orchard Center, Skokie, vineyardvines.com | Kenneth Cole Peer Pressure Driving Loafers, $140, Bloomingdale’s Valencia Akris Punto dress, $1,290, IRO white sneakers, $350, Frances Heffernan, 810 Elm St., Winnetka, francesheffernan.com | Deep Sand Pebble Leather Maddie Bag, $648, Worth New York, worthnewyork.com | 18-karat yellow gold and diamond ring, $4,475, 18-karat yellow gold hoop earrings, $1,475, Christopher Duquet, 1224 Chicago Ave., Evanston, christopherduquet.com Jaden Burberry Boys' Mini Camber Plaid Button-Down Shirt, $130, Ralph Lauren Childrenswear Boys' Skinny Jeans, $45-50, LACOSTE hoodie, $98, Bloomingdale's | Converse All-Star Hi-tops, City Sports, 1201 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, citysportsusa.com p. 84 — Caribbean Reef

spring fashion show

#FA SHION

friends, fashion and philanthropy

Sunday April 9, 2017 5-7:30 P M Autohaus on Edens 1600 Frontage Rd. Northbrook, IL

H C N U A L FA S H I O N DRIVING

F O R WA R

BAR BITES Provided by Morton’s Steakhouse

WINE & CHAMPAGNE Provided by Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe

SILENT AUCTION – ICONIC RAFFLE

Valencia Jovani One-Shoulder Asymmetric Crepe Sheath Dress, $495, Neiman Marcus, 737 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago, neimanmarcus.com | Champagne Metallic Dusted Suede Sloane Clutch, $385, Worth New York | 14-karat white gold and diamond bracelet, $9,495, 14-karat yellow gold pearl and diamond drop earrings, $8,950, 14-karat white gold and diamond ring, $8,750, Christopher Duquet | Shoes, from Tracy Clifford's personal collection, Charlotte Olympia, charlotteolympia.com

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PHOTO <CREDIT>

Jon Hugo BossTuxedo, Shirt and Shoes, BOSS Store, 520 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago, hugoboss.com | Reversible Bow Tie, $19, Tie Bar, 918 W. Armitage Ave, Chicago, thetiebar.com

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D

On behalf of the Make It Better Foundation invites you to

The 5 Annual th

presented by

Wednesday, May 3, 2017 Wintrust Hall 231 S. LaSalle Street Chicago , Illinois 5:00-7:30pm WALK THE ORANGE CARPET WITH US! Learn more and RSVP at makeitbetter.net/orangecarpet Visit makeitbetter.net/foundation/philanthropy-award-winners/ to view award videos of past winners

Very special thanks to our Academy of Judges, Sponsors and supporting not-for-profits who generously share their energy, time and talents PRESENTED BY

#CAREER

MOM AT WORK

HOW YOUR CAREER (OR LACK OF) IMPACTS YOUR CHILDREN

BY MEGHAN STREIT

Any woman who has ever pumped breast milk between meetings, arrived late to daycare pickup (once again), or been passed over for a promotion because she leaves the office earlier than childless colleagues knows the struggle of trying to combine work and motherhood.

The pressure to climb the corporate ladder while also throwing Pinterest-perfect birthday parties, volunteering in the kids’ classrooms, serving up home-cooked (organic!) meals day after day — and somehow making time for weekly date nights, lest your marriage fall apart — can result in offthe-charts stress levels. That’s why many highly educated, professionally successful women choose to leave the workforce and dedicate themselves full-time to motherhood.

“There is a real dysfunction where family life has evolved incredibly in the last five decades — we’ve gone from most mothers staying home to most being in the workforce — but the workplace hasn’t changed that much since the 60s,” says Katrina Alcorn, author of “Maxed Out: American Moms on the Brink.”

Despite significant advances in technology, Alcorn says many Americans are working longer hours than ever before.

Plus, the U.S. is one of the only countries in the world without mandated paid parental leave, and our access to affordable 8 8 M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7

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childcare is limited. All of these things, Alcorn says, make it very difficult for people to be parents and work at the same time, and this is particularly true for women, as mothers still tend to be the primary caregivers.

“We work longer hours, and we spend more time with our kids,” Alcorn says. “That time has to come from somewhere, and it’s coming from our sleep, leisure time and friendships.”

Meanwhile, a 2015 Harvard study found that the daughters of working mothers tend to be more successful in their own careers. In fact, women raised by working mothers earn 23 percent more than those with stay-at-home moms. And, 33 percent of the daughters of women who worked outside the home hold supervisory positions, as compared to 25 percent of their counterparts from homes with traditional gender roles.

“There is no single policy or practice that can eliminate gender gaps at work and at home. But being raised by a working mother appears to come very close to that,” says Harvard Business School professor Kathleen McGinn, who authored the study. “Women raised by a working mother do better in the workplace, and men raised by a working mother contribute more at home.”

#CAREER

The Harvard study may come as a bitter pill to women who opted out of their own careers in hope that staying home would ultimately benefit their children, only to find out that their kids might have been better off with a working mother.

But, Ellen Galinsky, president of the Families and Work Institute, says there’s no simple answer to whether it’s better for children to have their mother at home or at the office.

What does affect kids, Galinsky says, is how mothers feel about what they’re doing with their lives — whether it be working toward partnership at a law firm or coaching the soccer team and running the household.

“If you’re doing something you fundamentally think is right or wrong, you end up transferring your feelings to your children,” she says. “If you think you should work, cool. If you think it is wrong, it will spill over.”

Assuming your children are with good caregivers while you’re at work, Galinsky says that what matters most is your stress level when you come home. Galinsky conducted a survey of children in grades 3 through 12, and asked what one thing they’d want to change about their parents. While the parents predicted the kids would wish for more time with them, Galinsky says the majority of the children said they wish their parents were less stressed and tired.

The takeaway? If you have a job that you find rewarding and you come home feeling happy and energized, your kids will pick up on that. If, on the other hand, you come home angry

and exhausted, your mood will impact your children. If you can’t change the things about your job that cause you stress, Galinsky recommends making a conscious effort to be present and happy with your kids.

If you choose not to work in order to devote more time to motherhood, Galinsky says it’s important to have an activity that’s just for you. When you take some time for yourself, it’s good for you — and your kids.

“Early research on work and family used to look at ‘role conflict’ and how bad it was,” Galinsky says. “More current research looks at ‘role enhancement,’ and how having more than one thing in your life that you care about is good for you.”

Of course, it would be ideal if we could change American culture to make work and parenthood more compatible. But, when we’re in the trenches, juggling young children and careers, Alcorn says we should do whatever we have to do to get through the day. However, whenever we have the opportunity to take small steps toward changing our own workplace or the broader culture — we should take it.

“It’s about finding ways to advocate for yourself and for other women at work,” Alcorn says. “A rising tide lifts all boats, and we can advocate for each other just by something as simple as not judging someone if they need to leave early to pick up a sick kid.”

Read more at MAKEITBETTER.NET/CAREER

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“a work of high craftsmanship” - The New York Times

Jessica Lang Dance The Wanderer

A story ballet set to Franz Schubert’s Die Schöne Müllerin

May 3 / 7:30PM

Use code GEN40 for 40% off tickets.

312.334.7777 | HarrisTheaterChicago.org 205 East Randolph Drive

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Worship during Lent, Holy Week, and Easter Ash Wednesday, March 1 Soup supper at 6:30 p.m.

Worship and imposition of ashes at 7:30 p.m.

Soup Supper and Worship Tuesdays, March 7–28, April 4 6:30 p.m. supper and 7:15 p.m. worship

Palm Sunday, April 9

Worship at 8, 9, and 10:30 a.m.

Maundy Thursday, April 13

Soup supper at 6:30 p.m. and Tenebrae worship at 7:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, April 16

Sunrise worship service at 6:30 a.m. at Elder Lane Park Worship at 8, 9, and 10:30 a.m. at Kenilworth Union Church All are Welcome 211 KENILWORTH AVE | KENILWORTH | 847-251-4272 | KUC.ORG

# T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

Peer-to-peer boating makes it easier than ever to take to the water without having to own a boat.

HOW TO HIT THE WATER

BY BOAT WITHOUT EVER BUYING ONE

BY S U S A N PA S T E R N A K

Peer-to-Peer Boating Boosts Accessibility to This Coveted Luxury Pastime

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FREEDOM BOAT CLUB

Ever think about what it would be like to cruise Lake Michigan on a private boat, music and the sunlit skyline in the background?

Then reality sets in: The high costs of boat ownership — the upfront hefty price tags and the ongoing maintenance — keep most people planted on firm ground.

Enter the sharing economy, which has reached the shores of Lake Michigan, and makes it easier than ever to take to Chicago’s waterways without ever having to own a boat.

Thanks to a host of companies riding this peer-to-peer boating wave, Chicagoans can access thousands of boats — from basic sunfish sailboats to luxury yachts with a crew.

On the flip side, boat owners who have already paid the upfront costs and continue to shell out for maintenance can recoup some of that in the peer-to-peer boat economy.

“Chicago has our highest average trip value in the country, which is why our top owners make tens of thousands of dollars in a single season,” says Justin Parker, chief marketing officer at Boatbound, a peer-to-peer boating company, which started in Seattle and has rapidly expanded to other cities. “Boats sell out quickly on the weekends; and for popular events, such as the Chicago Air and Water Show, boats will get booked months in advance.”

There are some 12.2 million boats registered in the U.S., yet the average boat gets used just 26 days a year, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, a boating industry group, which is banking on peer-to-peer boating to expose a new demographic to the pastime, potentially bolstering what is already a $121.5 billion dollar industry. The number of days of use in Chicago is likely much lower, due to our short boating season.

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Many boat clubs have a range of membership options.

“It’s a good way to introduce people to boating without a commitment,” says Ted Widen, the owner of Boat Share Direct, a peer-to-peer boat sharing company.

On any given day in Chicago, Boatbound, which launched in 2013 and arrived in Chicago’s harbors in 2014, shows an available fleet of between 50 and 100 boats, and they expect those numbers to climb as boat-sharing catches on. One such boat available is a Bayliner Marine Corp 2655 DX Sunbridge for $650 per day. The 27-foot yacht sleeps six, but can accommodate as many as eight passengers.

Like peer-to-peer sharing for vacation homes, boat owners and renters can vet one another through online reviews. However, unlike home rentals, there is a skill required to captain a boat, so novices have the option on many peer-to-peer boat sites of renting a boat with a licensed captain. And many of the sites insure the rentals. Furthermore, Boatbound, and other outfits, such as Boatsetter, have a qualification process for potential renters. Like all peer-to-peer business models, ultimately, the owner has the final say as to whom he or she will rent.

For those who do get hooked on navigating the seas and covet the boating lifestyle without the commitment of boat ownership, joining a boat club could be a good fit. As opposed to peer-to-peer boating, a boat club is operated similarly to Zipcar or even a country club. For an annual fee and monthly dues — the typical business model for a boat club — a for-profit company provides a diverse fleet of boats for its members. Part of the appeal of a boat club is the concierge-like services of boat training, docking the boat

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and, of course, taking care of all the hassles that come along with maintaining and storing boats.

Freedom Boat Club, which operates in 21 states, is one such outfit. Melissa and Mike Ginter have owned and operated the Chicago franchise for four years and are bullish on the business model for novice boaters and seasoned captains alike. One of their first customers was Katie Frick, a Downers Grove resident, who never imagined she would be able to afford summers spent boating on Lake Michigan. She also enjoys the reciprocity of the Freedom Boat Club, and has taken advantage of boating on other waterways around the country.

“This is so much more affordable than owning a boat, especially being in Chicago where it’s really a very short season,” Frick says. “The other thing that’s so nice is that at the end of it all you don’t have to spend time cleaning up. You’re tired, or hungry, and you get to get off and leave the cleanup to someone else (the company).”

Most boat clubs have a range of membership options, depending on how often clients plan to use the fleet, whether or not they want captains and if they plan to boat on high-demand holidays.

“What this does is it enables family time together without all of the cost and work that normally would come along with owning a boat,” Melissa Ginter says. “Why not offload the hassle factors to a different entity that takes care of everything?

Folks that have experience with boating understand the value of this concept.”

# T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

For those still angling for a boat to call your own, boat dealers and brokers in Chicago and in nearby Wisconsin and Michigan resort towns have new and used inventory to meet every boater’s dreams.

Gage Marine 1 Liechty Dr. Williams Bay, WI OR 5167 State Highway 50 Delavan, WI 262-245-5501 www.gagemarine.com

Gage Marine now features Chris-Craft boats.

Harbor Country Marine Service, Inc. 819 W. Buffalo St. New Buffalo, MI 269-469-2628 www.harborcountrymarine.com Jerry’s Majestic Marine 453 Madison St. Walworth, WI 262-275-5222 www.jerrysmajestic.com

RIGHT PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS-CRAFT ©2017

Karma Yacht Sales 3434 E. 95th Street Chicago 773-254-0200 www.karmayachtsales.com Lake Geneva Marine 454 Lake Ave. Fontana, WI 261-275-5708 www.lakegenevamarine.com Saleboat Sales Co. 3434 E. 95th Street Chicago 773-221-8880 www.saleboatsalesco.com Read more at MAKEITBETTER.NET/ TRANSPORTATION

EX TRAO RDINARY CITIZENS LUNCH EO N

May 15, 2017 Fairmont Chicago

WOW! Student Showcase and Reception: 11:00am – 11:45am Luncheon: 11:45am – 1:30pm

extraordinary citizens Honoree: Bradley Wynn, LGIMA Extraordinary Corporate Partner: Google Featuring Keynote by Jaime Casap, Chief Education Evangelist, Google

Register at: citizenschools.org/csiluncheon2017 Citizen Schools is a non-profit organization that partners with middle schools to expand the learning day for children in underserved communities across the country. Citizen Schools expanded its operation to Illinois in 2012 bringing a proven model to Chicago Public Schools.

MEDIA SPONSOR

#BOOKS

SET SAIL

ESCAPE TO THE HIGH SEAS WITH THESE 8 NAUTICAL NOVELS

BY RINCEY ABRAHAM

There’s nothing quite like a good book to quench your thirst for adventure, and what could be more romantic and exciting than seafaring tales of voyage and discovery across the open ocean? These eight novels will transport you straight to the ship’s deck. Close your eyes and you just might hear the crashing waves and feel the salty spray upon your face.

Moby Dick; or The Whale by Herman Melville

Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown

Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh

Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian

Many people are intimidated by this American classic — our own white whale, so to speak — but there is a reason why this book has stood the test of time. Part adventure tale, part psychological struggle, readers get a glimpse into the psyche of famed Captain Ahab. Surrounded by a truly eclectic cast of characters, you will find yourself questioning your own motivations and desires. And yes, there are hundreds of pages of this book that read like encyclopedia entries of whales and whaling, but just think of all the fun facts about uses for whale fat you can share with dinner party guests.

Set directly before the Opium Wars, “Sea of Poppies” is the first book in the Ibis Trilogy and is set along the Ganges River in Calcutta, India. A series of events has thrown together characters from a variety of backgrounds — an ordinary village woman named Deeti, a mixed-race American sailor named Zachary Reid, a bankrupt member of Indian royalty named Neel Rattan Halder, and Benjamin Burnham, an evangelist opium trader. This is sprawling historical fiction that takes readers through the poppy fields along the Ganges, across the high seas and along the exotic backstreets of Canton.

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This is the swashbuckling pirate adventure story of the kidnapping of Chef Owen Wedgewood by the infamous Mad Hannah Mabbott. She spares his life so long as he provides her a weekly, five-star-worthy meal. The problem is that his divine dishes must be composed in a tiny kitchen in the middle of the ocean. The novel presents every delectable detail of each meal, so don’t read it while hungry. It also explores the charged relationship between the chef and his captor and the conflict between his feelings of loyalty as the ship is constantly attacked and his desire to escape.

This novel is probably best known thanks to the 2003 film adaptation starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany, which was based not only on this book but on others from the 20-book series. In this first novel of the series, readers are introduced to Jack Aubrey, a young “master and commander” who is promoted to the old and slow HMS Sophie; Stephen Maturin, a poor but skilled doctor who becomes a naval surgeon; and James Dillon, the first lieutenant of the ship. The novel is set in 1800 and the series takes place over the course of the Napoleonic Wars.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Ruta Sepetys is one of the best writers of young adult historical fiction out there.

This is the story of the little-known, real-life tragedy of the Wilhelm Gustloff, a German military transport ship. The novel follows four characters during World War II who seek the transport to freedom the ship promises its riders. This fast-paced story keeps readers hooked chapter after chapter even if they know the inevitable fate of its characters.

Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson

This novel by Erik Larson, who is probably most well known for his bestselling Chicagobased book “The Devil in the White City,” tells the tale of the famous ocean liner as it sets sail from New York to England May 1, 1915, less than a year into World War I. Though the ship was one of the fastest of its time and its captain was certain it would be safe on its journey, history had other plans for the vessel. Whether or not you know the story of the Lusitania’s fate or not, Larson will captivate you with this dramatic, historical tale.

We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen

This Scandinavian novel crosses a hundred years, four generations and two world wars.

It begins in the mid-1800s with a small crew of Danish sailors who leave their small town to take on the Germans. Many of the sailors do not survive the trip, but one crew member, Laurids Madsen, escapes the fight and embraces anonymity along the high seas.

His son Albert begins a journey to find him that takes him around the world. From Russia to Samoa to Tasmania, this epic novel explores the relationship between father and son while also taking readers on a wild, globetrotting ride.

Teaching your children to save makes “cents” When you stop in with your child during the month of April and open a new My First Account or a Student Savings Account with a minimum $25* deposit to open, we’ll match it with a $25 deposit of our own.

Contact one of our personal bankers today and let us get you into financial shape.

www.firstbankhp.com | iTunes | GooglePlay *New Money Only. The My First Account is designed for children from birth through 17 yrs. and is a custodial account opened with a parent/guardian under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (ILUTMA).

The Student Savings Account is designed for individuals 16 to 26 yrs. with individuals under 18 requiring a parental/guardian cosigner. Both accounts require a valid social security number, a minimum deposit of $25.00 to open and receive the $25.00 bonus. Both accounts are interest bearing with an Annual Percentage Yield (APY) of 0.20% that is accurate as of 1/31/17 and is subject to change at our discretion.

Interest is earned on all balances greater than $0.01 and the $25.00 bonus will be credited at account opening. Bonus is considered income and is subject to IRS 1099 reporting. Fees may reduce earnings.

Offer expires 4/30/17.

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Northbrook

1835 First St., Highland Park, IL 60035 (847) 432-7800

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Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie’s hero detective Hercule Poirot is probably best known from Christie’s famed train mystery, “Murder on the Orient Express.” But Poirot also solves crimes while aboard the river-steamer SS Karnak as it travels throughout Egypt along the Nile. Poirot meets the rich, beautiful Linnet Doyle and her new husband, Simon, while on vacation.

Unfortunately, things take a turn for the newlyweds when Linnet is found murdered.

Poirot must sort through a boatload of suspects to find the killer before they strike again.

A classic “locked room mystery,” this is a must-read for any Christie or mystery fan.

Read more book recommendations online at MAKEITBETTER.NET/BOOKS Stoneterracebb.com |1622 Forest Pl. | Evanston | 847.859.2198

NMLS# 421795

# T H E AT E R

SPRING STAGE

BY ROBERT LOER ZEL

Steppenwolf’s Tracy Letts

As spring blooms, local stages are bursting with brand-new works of theater.

March and April will be strong months for regional and world premieres.

March 30 – May 21 | Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago | 312-335-1650 | steppenwolf.org Pulitzer- and Tony-winning playwright Tracy Letts is back at his home theater with another world premiere. His previous play, “Mary Page Marlowe,” was the story of a woman; this one’s the story of a man, a 50-year-old misanthrope named Wheeler (Ian Barford). His marriage is over, his job is boring, and his best years seem to be behind him, but now he finds a chance to start over. The cast also includes Steppenwolf favorites Tim Hopper and Letts himself.

“BY THE WATER”

March 16 – April 23 | Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie 847-673-6300 | northlight.org Two local actors who excel at playing sympathetic everyday people, Francis Guinan and Penny Slusher, star in Sharyn Rothstein’s play about a Staten Island neighborhood devastated

by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. When the drama premiered in New York, Variety praised the script’s “wonderful characters.”

“SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE”

April 15 – June 11 | Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago | 312-595-5600 | chicagoshakes.com It was only a matter of time before the Oscar-winning 1999 movie “Shakespeare in Love” (co-written by venerable playwright Tom Stoppard) became a stage show. And of course, Chicago Shakespeare is the perfect venue for the local premiere of Lee Hall’s adaptation, which London’s Sunday Times called “riotously funny.”

“BEYOND CARING”

March 22 – May 7 | Lookingglass Theatre, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago | 312-337-0665 | lookingglasstheatre.org When this drama about low-paid workers in the shadow economy made its 2014 debut in London, it was set in England. The Guardian called it “quietly devastating.” For this new staging, writer-director Alexander Zeldin and 96

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Lookingglass have reimagined it as a Chicago story. They’re working in collaboration with Dark Harbor Stories, a company led by David Schwimmer and Tom Hodges.

“THE MYSTERY OF LOVE & SEX”

April 5 – July 2 | Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe 847-242-6000 | writerstheatre.org Playwright Bathsheba Doran has said this comedy asks that burning question: “What is the relationship between love and sex?” When it made its 2015 premiere at Lincoln Center, The New York Times called it a “tender and funny exploration of the lives of two couples from two generations.” Writers Theatre is using its smaller performance space, the Gillian Theatre, to create an intimate atmosphere for this local premiere.

Other shows worth checking out: “Anytime/Anywhere: The Third Annual Piven Improv Series,” March 24–April 15, Piven Theatre, 847-866-6597, piventheatre.org “Chicago,” March 30–June 11, Drury Lane, 630-530-0111, drurylaneoakbrook.com “Destiny of Desire,” March 11–April 16, Goodman Theatre, 312-443-3800, goodmantheatre.org “Disney’s Aladdin,” April 11–July 2, Cadillac Palace Theatre, 800-775-2000, broadwayinchicago.com “The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz,” March 17–May 7, House Theatre (at the Chopin), 773-769-3832, thehousetheatre.com “The Hard Problem,” March 9–April 9, Court Theatre, 773-753-4472, courttheatre.org “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” March 7–19, Oriental Theatre, 312-977-1700, broadwayinchicago.com “King of the Yees,” March 31–April 30, Goodman Theatre, 312-443-3800, goodmantheatre.org “The Lincoln Squares’ ‘Gravediggers’ Hamlet,’” March 30–April 16, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, 312-595-5600, chicagoshakes.com Read more at MAKEITBETTER.NET/THEATER

PHOTO BY JIM LUNING

“LINDA VISTA”

NOW THROUGH MARCH 26

written by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

directed by MARTI MARADEN

MAJOR 2016/17 SEASON SUPPORTERS

PRODUCTION SPONSOR

Barbara and Richard Franke

The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust

The newest play by ensemble member

Tracy Letts

(August: Osage County, Mary Page Marlowe)

Tickets

to Performances

Mar 30 – Apr 16

use code: BETTER

steppenwolf.org 312-335-1650

Wheeler—middle-aged, misanthropic, underemployed—moves from his ex-wife’s garage to his own apartment, opening complicated and hilarious new possibilities for love and sex.

Directed by 2016/17 Grand Benefactors

Dexter Bullard

2016/17 Benefactors

Jennie Greenberry; photo by Bill Burlingham

312.595.5600 • chicagoshakes.com

#PHILANTHROPY

BY WILL MENDELSON

GIVE TIME VOLUNTEER THIS SPRING TO SUPPORT THE ELDERLY H.O.M.E. 773-921-3200 | homeseniors.org Committed to improving the quality of life for Chicago’s low-income elderly, H.O.M.E. helps seniors remain independent and part of their community by offering opportunities for intergenerational living and by providing a variety of citywide support services.

Volunteers are invited to bring a meal on the weekend for about 12 people and many volunteers plan an activity after the meal.

Volunteers can also serve as guest chefs on weekends as well. Find out more at homeseniors.org/volunteer.

VOLUNTEERS PREPARE AND SHARE A MEAL FOR SENIORS AT NATHALIE SALMON HOUSE.

GI V E SU PP ORT DONATE TO UNDER-RESOURCED STUDENTS Citizen Schools 312-504-1785 | citizenschools.org/Illinois Citizen Schools Illinois is a nonprofit organization committed to closing the opportunity and achievement gaps for middle school students in under-resourced communities, ensuring that all young adolescents are ready to succeed in high school, college and beyond. Citizen Schools is hosting its Extraordinary Citizens Luncheon on May 15 at the Fairmont Chicago. Tickets are $150, individual tables are $1,500, and corporate sponsorships start at $5,000. Tickets can be purchased at citizenschools.org/Illinois.

p SUPPORT AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS By the Hand 630-414-7054 | bythehand.org By the Hand is a Chicago-based after-school program that emphasizes academic excellence while nurturing the whole child — mind, body and soul. Working toward the goal of serving 2,000 kids by 2018, the program relies on your generosity in order to be able to accept more children. Invest in these young lives today to make a lasting difference tomorrow. Donations can be made at 415 N. Laramie Ave., Chicago, IL, 60644 or at bythehand.org/act-now/give.

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STUDENTS AT CARTER G. WOODSON ELEMENTARY IN THE BRONZEVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD PARTICIPATE IN A COOKING APPRENTICESHIP.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EACH ORGANIZATION

TWO STUDENTS AT BY THE HAND CLUB PARTICIPATE IN THE PERSONALIZED BLENDED-LEARNING PROGRAM.

GI V E T H I NGS

#PHILANTHROPY

SUPPORT GIRLS u Girls in the Game 312-633-4263 girlsinthegame.org At Girls in the Game every girl finds her voice, discovers her strength and leads with confidence through fun and active sports, health and leadership programs. Donate gift cards and other raffle items for Girls in the Game’s Hops for Humboldt Beer Tasting on April 11. Funds raised at this event go to support Girls in the Game programming.

Mail to 1401 S. Sacramento Drive, Chicago, IL 60623 or go to girlsinthegame.org/ donate.

GIRLS IN THE GAME EMPOWERS ALL GIRLS TO BE GAME-CHANGERS.

KELLOGG CENTER FOR NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT

mission IS OUR motivation.

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Visit KELL.GG/KXNONPROFIT or call 847-491-3415 for more information or to register for upcoming programs.

Explore our new exhibit through Apr 24 THE PLACE WHERE AWESOME LIVES

BRING THE WORLD DOWN TO SIZE. Through April 24, discover Eastern culture in our latest exhibit, Children’s China: Celebrating Culture, Character, & Confucius.

Learn Chinese hanzi lettering, care for baby pandas, and take part in our daily Chinese New Year dragon parades! See for yourself why we’re The Place Where Awesome Lives!

Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago • 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview • (847) 832-6600 • kcmgc.org

Styles for Spring Vazee Rush

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From family gatherings to corporate lunches and festive occasions, allow An Apple A Day Catering to customize your event from beginning to end to help

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New Balance North Shore 610 Central Avenue • Port Clinton Square Downtown Highland Park 847-266-8323 • Open 7 days

#BETTERMAKERS

BETTER MAKERS AND THEIR IMPACT

Gala Co-Chairs: Scott* and Nancy** Santi of Winnetka, and Eric* and Kim Smith of Evanston; special collaboration between the Women’s Board and Board of Directors *Member, Board of Directors **Member, Women’s Board Lead Sponsor: Liz Stiffel; Supporting Sponsor: J. Thomas Hurvis; Lead Corporate Sponsor: Kirkland & Ellis LLP Make It Better was a Gold Record Sponsor

PHOTO BY JACLYN SIMPSON

PHOTO BY CORY WEAVER

LYRIC OPER A OF CHICAGO

CHICAGO VOICES GALA BENEFIT CONCERT AND AFTER PARTY • FEB. 4, 2017 Civic Opera House • More than $2 million

The Ardis Krainik Theatre was filled to capacity for the Chicago Voices Concert.

Event co-chairs and Platinum Sponsors Eric and Kim Smith of Evanston with event co-chairs and Diamond Sponsors Nancy and Scott Santi of Winnetka in the Rice Grand Foyer.

PHOTO BY CORY WEAVER

The Chicago Voices concert will air on WTTW March 30.

PHOTO BY JACLYN SIMPSON

PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG

Evanston natives Jessie Mueller (star of Broadway’s “Beautiful”) 5 and Matthew Polenzani (star of Lyric’s recent “Magic Flute”) sang “The Prayer” during the concert.

Supporting Sponsor Tom Hurvis of Glenview with Lyric’s creative consultant Renée Fleming (artistic director for the concert) and Anthony Freud, Lyric’s general director.

Money raised at this event will go to general operating funds at Lyric. Pictured: Ekaterina Gubanova and Christian Van Horn in “Carmen,” running through March 25.

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WINTERFEST • JAN. 28, 2017 A. Perry Homes • More than $18,000

A . PERRY HOMES

PHOTOS BY JULIE CARTER

Money raised at Winterfest will support Northwestern Settlement programs like summer camp.

Ron Manderschied, president of Northwestern Settlement, and Tony Perry, of A Perry Homes

MCGAW YMCA

Lisa Kostka and Jenna Radivojevic, both of FreshSkin in Highland Park

Ashvini and Rajesh Keswani

2017 MCGAW YMCA ANNUAL GALA: “SPOTLIGHT ON YOUTH” • JAN. 21, 2017 McGaw YMCA’s Sebring-Lewis Center • Estimated more than $300,000 Honorees: Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl, Robert and Patty Reece and Perrion McClinton Sponsors included Northwestern University, Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation, Tom F. and Susan P. Moran Family Foundation and more.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MCGAW YMCA

2017 McGaw YMCA Annual Gala honorees Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl, Robert Reece and Patty Reece stand with Board Chair Pat Maunsell and CEO Mark A. Dennis, Jr.

Robert Reece and 2017 Tally-Reece Award Winner Perrion McClinton Make It Better was a media sponsor of this event.

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Money raised will support multiple youth programs.

COURTESY OF NORTHWESTERN SETTLEMENT

www.aperryhomes.com

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL COMMITTEE BENEFIT CONCERT • JAN. 18, 2017 Park West • $75,000 Lead sponsors: John and Angie Lyons / DLA Piper

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM

PHOTO BY ROBIN SUBAR

ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM AND EDUCATION CENTER

Funds raised at this event will support the Museum’s exhibitions and programs as they “strive to inspire individuals and organizations and provide a universal wake-up call to action: Take history to heart. Take a stand for humanity.”

Museum CEO Susan Abrams, EMI Recording artist Eric Paslay and Holocaust survivor and Museum President Fritzie Fritzshall

Committee co-chairs Mike Bregman and Carly Rehbock, and event co-chairs Amanda Pearlstein and Dan Thalheimer with Eric Paslay (middle)

Galya Leob, Amanda Pearlstein and Allie Block

Victoria Adams & Leslie Wu: Still Shores April 28 — June 30, 2017

Mother’s Day Hydrafacial Regular Price

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Gift Certificate Purchase Victoria Adams, Calling on the Sky, oil on linen, 40 x 70 inches

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Archbishop Blase J. Cupich, Pat and Shirley Ryan and Dr. Joanne C. Smith, president and CEO of Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

INSPIRATION AND TRANSFORMATION

BY SUSAN B . NOYE S

Two cutting-edge organizations where progress and innovation in the field of rehabilitation abound, RIC’s AbilityLab and Pathways, will be joining forces as the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab thanks to a record gift from Shirley and Pat Ryan.

Ryan resisted the renaming until she realized, “It’s important to use all of the strengths we have to inspire others too. “I’ve just always acted on the Lord working through our third son, Corbett,” she explains. Their youngest was born with physical challenges.

As a result, and through prodigious efforts, Ryan sought, applied and developed the best possible care — first for him, then for all children through Pathways.

Ryan’s name has long been a great force for good. It opens powerful doors and reinforces best practices. A lifelong learner, Ryan studies issues deeply before settling on the most strategic course forward. When she acts, she creates opportunities for as many others as possible too. For these reasons, U.S. presidents from both parties have asked her to advise them. Also, she serves on the executive committee of the board of directors of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and 1 0 4 M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 7

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on the board of directors of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Alain Locke Charter Academy and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. She recently received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Notre Dame and was recently honored by the Chicago History Museum for distinction in civic leadership.

Ryan credits her husband of 50 years, Pat, who founded Aon, leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance, and human resources, as well as holding company Ryan Specialty Group (RSG), and who is probably Chicago’s most successful entrepreneur in recent history, with giving her strength to act too. “It’s easy when you have the giant power of this man behind you,” Ryan grins. But those who know the couple well understand that the success of each is a tribute to the other and evidence of the power of a loving union.

The concept at the core of the new hospital — putting all patients at the center of the closest possible collaboration between researchers and clinicians in a world-class, positive and empowering environment called an “AbilityLab” — has proven to be transformational at Pathways and in an RIC pilot program. RIC and Pathways are also known for strategic online dissemination of best practices, which are accessible to all.

The scale of RIC’s research enterprise is the largest of its kind in the world, and will continue to grow in the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Currently, more than 200 research projects are underway,

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RIC

Need inspiration to lean in and embrace your faith, intellect, gifts and power to create impact? Please get to know Shirley Ryan. Other-centered, eloquent and determined, she is a social entrepreneur extraordinaire, whose strategic and values-driven work consistently creates opportunities that lift up others.

Thanks to a record gift from Ryan and her husband Pat, Pathways — a leading nonprofit research and rehabilitation center for children struggling with developmental delays founded by the Ryans decades ago — will join best-in-class Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) research hospital, with the new institution renamed in her honor — “Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.”

# L O C A LT R E A S U R E

funded by both private and public supporters, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Defense and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. Additionally it is an academic home and clinical partner for the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Northwestern University in the Feinberg School of Medicine.

“We are investing in science and technology more than any other place of our kind on the planet,” says RIC President and CEO Dr. Joanne Smith. “A new era in physical medicine and rehabilitation, perhaps a whole ‘new category’ in medicine, starts with this merger and our new facility.”

Ryan stresses that the work is about more than science and physical rehabilitation though. “We’re breaking down stereotypes,” she explains. “The hospital will be a miracle workshop — literally a miracle workshop. It is about building on our strengths, our abilities. Everyone has them. It is not about our limitations. It is about what I can do, and what you can do. About [Board Chair] Jude Reyes, Joanne Smith, the technologists, clinicians and researchers who will collaborate on the same floor too.”

With characteristic loving, faith-filled and community-building words, Ryan inspires all to lean in and do more — to believe and work towards better together. We can all do this too.

Read more MAKEITBETTER.NET/HEALTH

Arms + Hands Lab — one of five applied research and therapeutic spaces in the new hospital. This lab will serve patients with any kind of functional impairment affecting the arms and hands (e.g., those recovering from stroke, spinal cord injury, etc.).

WOODLANDS ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART Studies show girls’ school graduates are three times more likely to consider majoring in engineering and six times more likely to consider majoring in math, science and technology.

Empower your daughter today!

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# C LO S I N GT H O U G H T S

WATER

BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON

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The water understands Civilization well; It wets my foot, but prettily, It chills my life, but wittily, It is not disconcerted, It is not broken-hearted: Well used, it decketh joy, Adorneth, doubleth joy: Ill used, it will destroy, In perfect time and measure With a face of golden pleasure Elegantly destroy.

Source: Poets of the English Language (Viking Press, 1950)

Courtesy of the Poetry Foundation, a national treasure based in River North.

Learn more: poetryfoundation.org.

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1. Buckingham Fountain

Photo courtesy of City of Chicago 2. Jaume Plensa's Crown Fountain in Millennium Park Photo by courtesy of City of Chicago 3. Lincoln Park Zoo Photo courtesy of Lincoln Park Zoo 4. Rainy Days in the Chicago Loop Photo by Erica Barraca 5. Shedd Aquarium Photo courtesy of Shedd Aquarium 6. St. Patrick's Day River Photo by Gabrielle Tasiopoulos 7. Chicago's First Lady Cruises Photo courtesy of Chicago First Lady Cruises

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