Weekend SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2020 • ShawMediaIllinois.com
‘THE CROFT’
Original Theatre Company play scares up good time / 2
MYSTERY DINER
Italian favorite Cucina Bella adds outdoor dining / 4
BACK TO NATURE
Some of the best spots to set up camp in Illinois / 3
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‘The Croft’ scares up good time mixing epochs REVIEWS Regina M. Belt-Daniels It’s back to the Original Theatre Company’s online streaming, folks; this time for a tale of the supernatural, old themes perhaps, but a new play: “The Croft” by Ali Milles. Well written and tightly crafted, “The Croft” is somewhat even more astonishing as it’s also Milles’ debut play. The “tartan thriller” has a particular resonance with our recent history of social distancing and lockdown – the advantages and disadvantages of living remotely. This croft (rented farm) is 45 minutes from the nearest shop, has no phone service, and is nestled amid the ruins of the deserted Scottish Highlands village of Coillie Ghillie. (Ironically, this play was on tour when COVID-19 hit; fortunately for us, it immediately was filmed.) Loosely based on real events, “The Croft” stars five marvelously talented actors who play double roles, some set in the present day, others in the past as three worlds collide and intertwine. Enid, branded a witch, won’t leave her croft cottage during the 19th century’s Highlands clearance and tubercular contagion; a century later, Ruth, facing terminal cancer, won’t leave the same croft for treatment in Glasgow. And in current time, Ruth’s daughter, Laura, has brought her lover to the remote croft, now labeled a holiday home. But as the character David states: “Buildings hold onto residue of past emotions … tragedy scars all” and therein begins a taste of what’s to come. Laura inevitably becomes the catalyst for the other two women’s stories. “The Croft” is a ghost story as well as a story about relationships. It’s witty, it’s intense and, at times, tender. Milles has skillfully and adeptly plotted history and mystery with the painful memories of previous inhabitants’ lives. Thankfully, Philip Franks is a remarkably committed director who develops characters with clarity and fluid blocking; he allows a good storyteller’s nuances and evolution as he engagingly teases an audience into captive involvement. (Franks also directed the previously reviewed Original Theatre’s “The Habit of Art.”) Adrian Linford has designed a suggestive, if not contemporary set, able to be a West Highlands cottage inside and out from 1820 to 2020; it is fully complemented by Chris Davey’s moody lighting. “The Croft” is stylistically savvy for its three very strong female characters. One of the UK’s best loved
Photos provided by Charlotte Graham
ABOVE: Caroline Harker (from left) and Lucy Doyle appear in the thriller, “The Croft.” BELOW: Gwen Taylor portrays Enid, a ghost in this thriller interweaving time periods.
IF YOU VIEW ■■ WHAT: Original Theatre Company
presents “The Croft” ■■ WHEN: Online streaming anytime; 104 minutes ■■ COST: $5 or what you can give, with every penny going to cast and crew ■■ INFO: www.originaltheatreonline. com
actresses, the 80-year-old, magnetic Gwen Taylor, is Enid, the unlikeable, miserable, but wholly understandable and resilient Highlands ghost. Caroline Harker is Suzanne/Ruth, another Brit recognizable to American audiences (“Foyle’s War,” “Murder in Suburbia,” “Middlemarch”), a gracious, elegant and stand-alone actress. But it is Lucy Doyle as Laura/Eilene, who is truly exceptional. The novice of the group, she is quite stellar in her role as the play’s catalyst. Drew Cain is the handsome and impressive David/Alec, who plays the family’s friend and ghillie (guide)
looking after the croft and the historical lover (and yes, I’ll confess to a major crush on that Scottish accent). In an almost thankless supportive role, Simon Roberts plays Tom/Patrick, fathers of Laura and Eilene. When he finally does appear onstage, Roberts skillfully makes his presence known. All five work together seamlessly to thrust us into the twilight world between fact and fiction; to both Milles and Franks’ credit, the play’s special effects aren’t overdone. If anything, they’re relatively calm: changes in the lighting, falling objects, plumes of smoke, doors closing on their own.
“The Croft” is just a genuinely interesting play; you want to know what happened, you want to know what happens. Original Theatre is building quite a solid reputation for quality, firstclass, professional productions. May I welcome the company to our shores – if only via streaming online for the time being. And remember, there’s no closing night and you can watch “The Croft” anytime you want to. So, what are you waiting for?
• Regina M. Belt-Daniels continues to social distance as she awaits a return to acting, directing, teaching and traveling with her husband. Gratefully, she still can review and write theater reviews thanks to online production streaming; she enthusiastically Zooms her way through theater board meetings throughout Illinois.
From camping to glamping, these nearby destinations deliver LEE COUNTY
By ERIN SAUDER For Shaw Media
Green River Oaks Camping Resort
Ready to load up your car with camping gear and the makings for s’mores for an overnight adventure? Here is a roundup of some of the best area spots to set up camp in Illinois this summer.
1442 Sleepy Hollow Road, Amboy www.greenriveroaks.com Family-owned and operated, Green River Oaks Camping Resort prides itself on being an affordable and fun destination for families of all sizes. Your nightly site rental fee is all you pay to enjoy most of the amenities and services available. The resort offers rental options including cabins and travel trailers. Leave behind the hustle and bustle of everyday life and escape to Green River Oaks Resort for a few days, a weekend, or a whole week. Expect plenty of planned activities and themed weekends that will keep your group entertained for the entirety of your stay.
McHENRY COUNTY Marengo Ridge Conservation Area 2411 N. Route 23, Marengo www.mccdistrict.org One of McHenry County’s most popular areas, Marengo Ridge sits on 818 acres of open space. For those who want to sleep under the stars, the site offers an exclusive-use campground for 1 to 100 people. Additionally, the Thomas Woods campground located on the east side of the site features 29 individual tent sites and 18 RV sites that can be reserved. Plan to take a hike? Miles of trails are available for exploring. Another perk? At its highest point, the ridge stands 1,050 feet above sea level, giving campers amazing views of the woodlands below.
KANE COUNTY Paul Wolff Campground 38W235 Big Timber Road, Elgin kaneforest.com/location/paul-wolff The Paul Wolff Campground, located within Elgin’s Burnidge Forest Preserve, offers 89 improved sites, with 50-amp electrical service, water access, parking pads and fire rings. Away from the main camping area are 10 primitive, wooded sites for tent camping only. Of note: primitive sites do not have electricity. Paul Wolff also has 9 miles of trails including a 2.25-mile, multi-purpose trail suitable for hiking, biking or equestrian use. Plan to bring your fishing pole as the campground offers well-stocked fish ponds.
DuPAGE COUNTY Blackwell Forest Preserve Butterfield Road, Warrenville www.dupageforest.org/places-to-go/ forest-preserves/blackwell Considered one of DuPage County’s most popular forest preserves, Blackwell features campsites for tents, trailers and motor homes. Each site has electricity, a gravel parking pad, fire ring and picnic table, but none have sewage or water hookups. Additionally, the 1,366-acre preserve
Earleen Hinton – ehinton@shawmedia.com
Picturesque limestone outcroppings like this one can be seen along the Rock River at Castle Rock State Park. features miles of trails and an opportu- and will offer 10 safari-style glamping nity to explore the area from the water tents with wood stoves, comfortable beds, en-suite restrooms and kitchby renting a canoe, kayak or rowboat enettes, a rustic pole barn with WiFi on Silver Lake. connectivity, various bonfire pits, secluded hiking trails, private access to the Vermilion River and a beautiful Gebhard Woods State Park deck overlooking the river. Additionally, guests can expect guided hikes, 401 Ottawa St., Morris nightly communal bonfires, private www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/ shuttle services to the nearby state GebhardWoods.aspx parks and more. Guests can reserve This 30-acre space, considered one the tents online when the reservation of Illinois’ most popular state parks, is system becomes available. No personbordered by the Illinois and Michigan al tent camping or RV parking will be Canal to the south and Nettle Creek permitted. on the north side. If you’re looking for a true camping experience, this is the place to go, as only primitive tent camping is available and gear must Leisure Lake Campground be walked (1/3 mile) to the campsite. 2304 French St., Rock Falls Fire rings, picnic tables and grills are www.leisurelakecampgroundil.com located in the camping area. A drinkOffering both trailer and RV ing fountain and pit toilets are located parking, Leisure Lake Campground’s within a short distance. main goal is to create a happy, safe and inviting place for families to vacation. The RV campground is clean and well cared for so that the only Camp Aramoni thing visitors need to worry about 809 N. 2199 Road, Tonica is how many s’mores they plan on www.camparamoni.com eating in the evening. Whether you Looking to take your camping are looking for a short getaway or a to the next level? Give glamping, or long-term outdoor experience, Leisure luxury camping, a try. The trend com- Lake Campground has a place for you bines camping and hotel experiences and your RV. The RV sites offer many into one, and that’s just what visitors amenities, including full hook-up will find at Camp Aramoni. Located access, showers and bathrooms, the five miles south of Starved Rock State lake, swimming, outdoor game areas, Park, the site is set to open this fall and sewer at every site.
GRUNDY COUNTY
WHITESIDE COUNTY
LaSALLE COUNTY
CARROLL COUNTY Fins & Feathers Campground 8065 County Road 374, Thomson www.finsandfeatherscampground.com Fins & Feathers Campground was established in 2007 at Lake Seminole. Because of its state-of-the-art accommodations and beautiful landscaping, the campground enjoys a huge following across the Midwest. Whether you arrive in a travel trailer, motor home, fifth wheel or pop-up, you will fall in love with the serene setting at Fins & Feathers. All sites are lake view. For the non-RVers, cabin rentals are available for that home-away-from-home feeling. There are ample activities for the entire family throughout the region, with lots of fishing and water to enjoy.
OGLE COUNTY Castle Rock State Park 1365 W. Castle Road, Oregon www2.illinois.gov/dnr/parks/pages/ CastleRock.aspx Castle Rock State Park, centrally located in the Rock River Hills region of Illinois and its rolling topography that drains into the Rock River, lies along the west bank of the Rock River. The park is representative of the Rock River Hills area, featuring distinct rock formations, ravines and unique northern plants. A sandstone bluff adjacent to the river has given the park its name.Park activities include boating, camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking, hunting, metal detecting and much more. Castle Rock features a primitive camping area accessible only by canoe or boat.
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M STERY D NER
Restaurant reviews
Italian favorite Cucina Bella adds outdoor dining At this point, it seems like each week is bringing some level of progress for the restaurant community. Many downtowns, like Algonquin, have allowed restaurants to expand outdoor options to serve more diners. We recently ordered a takeout dinner from one of those spots, Algonquin’s Cucina Bella. The restaurant has tables available outside and was able to expand its seating area. They have been one of the restaurants that had to adapt quickly during the pandemic, but stuck to what they do best, personal and individual service. They took as many direct calls as they could, but didn’t work with outside delivery services. And their food remained high quality. Our younger diners love Cucina Bella’s make-yourown-pasta dishes with the marinara sauce, so we ordered the rigatoni with marinara ($13), with the pasta fagioli soup. The soup came warm, with the pasta in a separate container to add in. We ate one that night and one the next day, and it was key to keep both separate until we were ready to eat. While eating rigatoni, one of our younger diners repeated this was her favorite pasta dish in the world. Our order came with fresh bread along with containers of oil and Parmesan. I cut the bread up and divided it before opening up the lasagna ($17) that I ordered, but several others sampled. It’s a huge helping, so I still ended up getting two meals out of it. The lasagna is some of the best I’ve ever had, with soft layers of pasta, cheese, sauce and meat. It went great with the sixpack of Giant Killer IPA from Algonquin’s own Scorched Earth Brewing ($16). I have had their other Scorched Earth offering, Rugged Coal
IF YOU ORDER ■■ WHAT: Cucina Bella ■■ WHERE: 220 S. Main St., Algonquin ■■ WHEN: 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday through
Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday ■■ INFO: cucinabellaalgonquin.com, 847-458-2504
SIMILAR OPTIONS For comparable dining destinations, check out these spots. ■■ Livia Italian Eatery, 207 S. Third St., Geneva; liviaitalianeatery.com, 630-402-6444 ■■ Basil Tree Ristorante, 123 E. First St., Dixon; basiltree2008.com, 815-288-7555 ■■ Barolo Ristorante, 2765 Black Road, Joliet; barolofinedining.com, 815-729-3606
Shaw Media photos
TOP: Angie Angelos (clockwise from top), Peter Angelos, Violet Angelos, 4, Nicole Angelos and Angelo Angelos, all of Crystal Lake, celebrate Angelo’s 36th birthday with an outdoor dinner at Cucina Bella on May 29 in Algonquin. LEFT: Attention to detail characterizes the Italian fare at Cucina Bella in Algonquin, which has expanded its outdoor seating and offers delivery, takeout and curbside pickup. RIGHT: The Gorgonzola salad features romaine lettuce, pears, blue cheese and candied pecans. Cucina Bella also offers an extensive gluten-free menu. Miner, plenty of times before, but it was good to mix it up this time with the IPA, which was a tasty American-style IPA with a clear hoppish taste that didn’t go too far. Our other entree was something we hadn’t ordered before, the chicken piccata ($18), with a Gorgonzola salad upgrade ($3.50) on the side.
The chicken piccata was a generous portion, cooked and seasoned perfectly. The tender chicken cut easily with a fork. The salad was a good mix, the lettuce was fresh and not too bitter or sweet. The dressing was included in the packaging in its own compartment and tied it all
together. It was a great family meal at home – a huge upgrade from our cooking capabilities, which Cucina Bella has helped home cooks work on during the pandemic with Facebook Live cooking classes available to all. Check those out too, if you get the chance.
• The Mystery Diner is an employee of Shaw Media. The diner’s identity is not revealed to restaurant staff when ordering or picking up the food. The Mystery Diner visits a restaurant and then reports on the experience. If the Mystery Diner cannot recommend the establishment, we will not publish a story.
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Matt Dees is the winemaker at Jonata, The Hilt and The Pairing.
Extra time in the vineyard for Matt Dees There was a time when Matt Dees never logged onto Instagram. Of the many things that have changed because of coronavirus restrictions, the super talented winemaker at Jonata, The Hilt and The Pairing has become app savvy when it comes to meetings and building the brands. As tasting rooms and restaurants begin to open up around the country and specifically in Dees’ Santa Barbara neighborhood, technology satiated the lack of face-to-face contact. “It fulfilled the desire to be out and communicate and that feels good,” Dees said. “It’s become very important on a personal level and to stay in touch with our customers. I think it’s important for the business and my sanity.” That was until it came time for blending trials.
Winemaker spotlight
Given enough time, Dees will obsess.
UNCORKED James Nokes With tasting rooms closed and contact limited with employees, Dees has spent more time in the vineyard than usual. Walking row after row, he said he’s developed a new read on the soils and has seen them from a new aspect. When I interviewed him, he was going over tasting notes. There were 11 bottles of wine open, and he was working on blends. He could spend all night getting them dialed in just right, and without a schedule chock full of meetings and events, he just might. “As a a winemaker, I’ve never had more time to myself in the vineyard,” Dees said. “I am my own worst enemy though. Woody Allen’s neurosis has got nothing on me. Having all the time in the world to obsess will do
that to me.” That should stand as a marker for when these wines are released. With no rush, Dees has already said the 2018s from Jonata are “a classic vintage,” where the merlot and cabernet franc are “sleek and reserved.” Add in the vineyards hitting their stride at 15 years old, they’ve hit what Dees said is “the window of maximum quality.” The Hilt’s vineyards were planted in 2007, so they are nearing that ideal age for Dees as well. As the vineyards have matured, so to will the new approach that will need to be used for staff and guests in coming months. Dees envisions businesses being able to rethink their travel plans – flights or long drives for a meeting perhaps can be avoided. “The ways a winery communicated with its customers will change,” Dees said. “We’ve been able to be surprisingly intimate with Zoom meetings, and I’ve had a blast doing them.” Winery business has continued
with what he said are “cells of team members working far apart,” and a harvest unlike any other awaits this fall. “We’ve put the health and safety first of everyone,” Dees said. “We are a large facility with two large estate vineyards. We’ve kept face time to a minimum and have been busy bottling and blending. Cells of team members have worked far apart and worn face masks. “We will work diligently to ensure there is a safe harvest whether it comes in August or September. Everyone will wear masks and someone will be dedicated to wiping down shared surfaces.” Whether obsessed or just dedicated to making great wines, Dees gets it right. That’s a neurosis worth having.
• James Nokes has been tasting, touring and collecting in the wine world for several years. Email him at jamesnokes25@yahoo.com.
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6 STREAMING THIS WEEKEND
Spike Lee flick, ‘Artemis Fowl,’ Norah Jones on tap fairies. Judi Dench and Josh Gad also star.
The ASSOCIATED PRESS Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.
Movies
“Da 5 Bloods”: It’s always the right time for a Spike Lee joint, and thankfully Netflix has his latest ready to debut. Four veterans travel back to Vietnam to try to find the remains of their squad leader in this film that traverses decades and genres. Full of complex ideas, “Da 5 Bloods” is guaranteed to enlighten and provoke. Case in point? He’s made one of the veterans (Delroy Lindo) a Donald Trump supporter. Celebrating Pride: Pride parades will be few and far between this year, but a number of channels are celebrating the LGBTQ community with special programming. On Sun-
day, the Criterion Channel drops the second installment of its Queersighted series, with seven films including Jean Cocteau’s “Orpheus,” Gus Van Sant’s “My Own Private Idaho” and Céline Sciamma’s “Water Lilies.” “Artemis Fowl”: Originally intended for theaters, Disney Plus just released Kenneth Branagh’s big-budget adaptation of Eoin Colfer’s “Artemis Fowl.” In the film, a young Irish genius (Ferdia Shaw) discovers a magical world in a quest to save his father (Colin Farrell) from a pack of
unreleased songs from her 2019 project, make up “Pull – Film Writer Lindsey Bahr Me Up Off the Floor” – a new 11-track album. Jones produced nine of the songs alone Music and wrote seven of the tracks Chloe x Halle: The sophomore album from Chloe x Hal- by herself. Collaborators include Jeff Tweedy, Emily le originally was supposed to Fiskio and Sarah Oda. be released last week, but the – Music Editor duo decided to push it back out Mesfin Fekadu to honor Black Out Tuesday and the music industry’s plan to turn off the music and take Television Gabrielle Union, engaged time to reflect and implement in a battle with NBC over her change in response to the death of George Floyd and the firing from “America’s Got Talent,” is firmly in control killings of other black people. on “ L.A.’s Finest,” the drama “Ungodly Hour” was released she produces and stars in Friday and features a more grown-up side of Chloe, 21, and with Jessica Alba. The series returns for season two on Halle, 20. The girls co-wrote, Spectrum, with the first three co-produced and engineered the album, which features the episodes out now. To set the scene: detective Syd (Union) is viral R&B hit, “Do It.” Norah Jones: Over the last searching for a friend’s killer, two years, Norah Jones has her partner McKenna (Alba) held monthly recording sesis dealing with marital woes, sions with various musicians and then a crime wave hits. to create epic singles instead Medical practitioners of a full album. The result of can be heroic with or without a pandemic to battle, as those gatherings, along with
made clear in the docuseries “Lenox Hill,” shot before the COVID-19 crisis. Cameras follow two brain surgeons, an ER physician and an obstetrician at New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital as they pour their energies and dedication into their patients’ care, while also tending to their own lives – a challenge that includes pregnancy for two of the doctors. The eight-episode series is on Netflix. If mystery is your cup of tea, “Grantchester” is here to oblige, returning at 8 p.m. Sunday to PBS’ “Masterpiece.” Set in an English village in the 1950s, the series boasts an unlikely pair of crime-busters in the Rev. Will (Tom Brittney) and police detective Geordie (Robson Green). Also back are closeted man of the cloth Leonard (Al Weaver) and Tessa-Peake Jones as an indispensable if stern housekeeper.
– Television Writer Lynn Elber
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Delphinium is the quintessential royal plant.
Purple offers touch of royalty in the garden By BARBARA LINDHOLM
DeKalb County Master Gardener Since ancient times, the color purple has been considered the color of royalty. Color dyes were difficult to manufacture, limited in supply and therefore scarce. Only the Roman elite, kings and queens could afford to possess purple garments. Although no longer rare, the color purple still symbolizes royalty today. Would you like to have a little royalty in your garden? Color can evoke a mood. Purple is a regal color with many uses in a garden design. Masses of dark purple plantings can form a dramatic, sweeping landscape display. A mellow touch to your garden can be achieved by the use of some of the softer purple shades. Purple also plays well with other colors, forming attractive combination plantings. Purple plants are formed by combining various shades of the primary colors, red and blue. The different color combinations can result in purple shades presenting from the light shades of lavender and lilac to
HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW? the deeper shades of royal purple and indigo. Let’s talk about how purple can help us successfully create a beautiful home garden. Many forms of purple plants including annuals, perennials, vines and shrubs can be used as we explore ways to incorporate purple into our landscape design. Attractive annual plants in the purple color range are ageratum, lobelia, pansy, petunia, scented nicotiana and heliotrope, and self-sowing cornflowers, larkspur and violas. Some of the more dramatic purple plants are found in the perennial plant choices. Queen of the regally purple perennials would have to be the delphinium, presenting a bold statement with its 5-foot-plus height in both light and dark shades of purple. Bearded iris and Siberian iris are signature plants recommended for use as accent
plants. Smaller plant selections for placement in mid to border locations in the garden include bellflower, salvia, verbena and veronica. Clematis, morning glory and wisteria are vines that display vertical uses of purple. Bulbs are another good source of purple for use in seasonal bloom. Allium, crocus, tulip and dahlia are all options to consider. Are you interested in growing native plants? A few native/wildflower choices are common violet, spiderwort, crested iris and New England aster. Butterfly bush, lilac, hydrangea and rhododendron are shrubs that can be used in all landscapes for purple accents. Often overlooked is the leaf color from foliage plants providing a support system of shades of purple. Placement is key with these plants. A sunny location is best with placement in the mid section of the flower bed. Recommended foliage plants are coleus, sweet potato, ornamental millet and shrubs such as smoke bush and nine bark.
While a monochromatic garden displaying all purple plants would be stunning, most gardeners probably will be using other plants of a variety of colors. So how can purple plants best participate in the creation of a harmonious garden result? Purple plants blend easily with other garden flower colors. Dark purple and indigo shades can be used with hot colors like red and orange to produce a vibrant color display. When a softer looking blend is the goal, lavender and lilac shades can be combined with pastels such as pink, mauve, pale yellow, silver and white. The magical combination is blue and purple, resulting in a sophisticated, regal garden display. The creation of a flower bed is filled with personal decisions and choices. Hopefully, the diverse purple plant family will find a home somewhere in your garden. Have fun!
• The Master Gardener Help Desk is closed because of the coronavirus. Gardening questions can be emailed to uiemg-dekalb@illinois.edu.
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Good Natured debuts its webcast at 8 p.m. June 16, an hourlong show that takes an up-close look at current nature topics and features special guests of a wild nature. Photo provided
‘Good Natured Hour’ webcast to go live As we slowly crawl from our quarantine-kindled cocoons, many of us are looking at the days ahead as a sort of rebirth. We’re vowing to find joy in every day, to bring kindness to the world, and to make the most of each and every moment. Some would say they are blossoming into beautiful butterflies, spreading their wings and attaining new heights. Others might go more the route of moths, just as talented but in a stockier, hairier and often nocturnal fashion. Me? Well, I’m taking the grasshopper approach. I’m changing, but in a much more gradual way. Entomologists will explain that insects basically have two ways in which they mature: complete and incomplete or gradual metamorphosis. Butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, bees and wasps all have an immature form that is quite different from their adult phase. Butterflies and moths start out as caterpillars; beetles, for the most part, begin as grubs; baby flies are maggots; and baby bees and wasps go by the word larvae, a more generic term that actually can be applied to any of these youngsters undergoing complete metamorphosis. When these juveniles pupate, astounding transformations occur
GOOD NATURED Pam Otto inside their pupal case, which may be a chrysalis or cocoon, or simply the hardened shell of their last shed. When they reappear after a period of weeks or months, they do not resemble their immature form in the least. They have long legs! Their mouthparts are rearranged! They can fly! Grasshoppers, meanwhile, do no such thing. A young grasshopper looks a lot like the adults who created it. Even the wings are present, but, in really tiny hoppers, the little pads are hard to see. Over time, the grasshopper grows and molts, then grows and molts some more. Its legs and wings keep getting bigger and stronger until one day, whammo. It’s time to take that first giant leap. So why do you suppose this week we’re talking about a topic that, compared with what’s going on in the nature world right this minute, is kinda mundane? I mean, frogs are calling, birds are nesting, and the monarchs are back and looking for milkweed. Awesome, amazing nature is in full swing. Well, here’s the deal: Good Natured,
this column that I’ve written for nigh onto 12 years now, is undergoing a transformation, and taking me with it. Save for one brief experiment with video in the early 2010s, Good Natured always has consisted of words – about 800 or so – arrayed on newsprint or across a computer screen. In the early days, it didn’t even merit a photo. It was just a few rambling paragraphs about a natural phenomenon such as why lightning bugs blink or where worms go when it rains. The nature news, so to speak, always was followed by announcements of upcoming nature programs that related to the topic du jour. Then, as our St. Charles Park District programming shifted, the promotional blurbs ceased and I gradually grew wordier. Another growth phase occurred when photos were added to the column. Its name, Good Natured, started to get some name recognition, and its reach expanded. So now here we are in 2020, looking ahead to a summer unlike any we’ve ever experienced. The whole social distancing phenomenon will have an effect on virtually every activity the park district offers. Except for virtual ones! And that’s where “The Good Natured Hour” comes in. Starting Tuesday, June 16, and run-
ning at least through the summer, we’re going to be launching – like a grasshopper springing from a leaf – an online version of Good Natured. Part talk show, part variety show, “The Good Natured Hour” will run from 8 to 9 p.m. and take a live and up-close look at the column’s current topic, supplementing it with video footage and one-on-one interviews with local characters. We’ll be using the Zoom video conferencing platform, and guests will include insects, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds – or parts thereof – as well as, from time to time, humans who are making a positive impact on our local environment. In order to fund the care and feeding of our education (and possible “Good Natured Hour” guest) animals, we’ll be charging a weekly fee of $2. Think of it as a $2 Tuesday event that you don’t have to leave home to enjoy. Sound like fun? You can bet it will be! You can find more information and how to sign up on the park district’s e-Activities page at www.stcparks. org/eactivities.
• Pam Otto is the outreach ambassador for the St. Charles Park District. She can be reached at 630-5134346 or potto@stcparks.org.